17 Other Ways to Say IMPEDE (With Examples)

You often find yourself looking for better words to explain when something is stuck or moving slowly. Using other ways to say impede can make your writing much more interesting and easier for everyone to understand. Let us look at some simple and common alternatives that you can use right now.

17 Other Ways to Say IMPEDE (With Examples)

Block

When you want to describe a path that is completely closed, this is the perfect word to use. It means nothing can get through at all. Think about a giant wall or a closed door. It is a very strong word that tells people the movement has stopped entirely. You can use it for physical objects or even for ideas that cannot move forward. It is one of the simplest words in English for this situation.

The fallen tree will block the road.
Please do not block the hallway entrance.
That big truck will block our view.
He tried to block the soccer ball.
A heavy gate will block the path.
Don’t let bad thoughts block your success.

Slow down

Sometimes things do not stop completely but they just lose their speed. This phrase is very friendly and easy for most people to recognize. You might use it when talking about traffic or perhaps a project that is taking longer than you expected. It feels very natural in a normal conversation. It helps you explain that progress is happening, but it is just not as fast as you would like it to be.

The rain will slow down the runners.
Please slow down when driving near schools.
The bad news will slow down progress.
You should slow down and eat quietly.
Construction will slow down the morning traffic.
We need to slow down the process.

Hinder

This is a great word when something makes a task difficult to finish. It suggests that there are obstacles in the way making life harder for someone. While the person is still trying to work, these problems are getting in the way of their goals. It is a very common term in offices or schools. Use it when you want to sound a bit more professional while still keeping your sentences very easy to read.

The cold weather will hinder our garden.
Noise can hinder your ability to study.
Losing his glasses will hinder his work.
A lack of money might hinder plans.
Strict rules often hinder new creative ideas.
The heavy bags will hinder her walking.

Delay

You should use this word when something is going to happen later than planned. It is all about time and schedules. Maybe a flight is not leaving on time or a meeting is moved to next week. It is a very useful word for daily life because things rarely happen exactly when we want them to. It clearly tells the reader that there is a pause in the action which will end at some point.

The storm will delay our flight today.
Please do not delay your doctor visit.
Heavy fog will delay the morning train.
A power outage will delay the show.
Traffic jams will delay our dinner plans.
They decided to delay the big wedding.

Check

This word is interesting because it means to stop or slow something from growing or spreading. You often hear it in news reports about fires or even in sports. It is a very short and punchy word that gets straight to the point. It shows that someone is taking control to make sure a situation does not get out of hand. It is a very effective choice for showing active control over a bad situation.

The wall will check the rising water.
We must check the spread of weeds.
New laws will check the rising prices.
The medicine will check the sudden infection.
His hand moved to check her fall.
The police will check the rowdy crowd.

Stop

This is the most direct word you can ever use. It means there is no more movement at all. When you say this, people know exactly what you mean without any confusion. It is very powerful and simple. Use it when you want to be very clear that an action has come to an end. It is one of the first words children learn, which makes it perfect for very easy and clear communication.

The red light will stop the cars.
Please stop making that loud clicking noise.
He will stop the clock at noon.
The fence will stop the dog escaping.
You must stop before the white line.
The rain will stop the outdoor game.

Get in the way

This is a very conversational phrase that people use every single day. It sounds like something you would say to a friend while drinking coffee. It describes a situation where something is physically or mentally blocking your progress. It is very relatable because everyone has experienced this feeling before. It makes your writing feel warm and human. Use it when you want to sound like a real person talking about a real problem.

My old chair will get in the way.
Do not let fear get in the way.
The toys always get in the way.
Her ego might get in the way.
Will the dog get in the way?
Small details get in the way sometimes.

Hold back

When you feel like something is being kept from moving forward, this is the phrase for you. It often describes feelings or even physical force. Imagine someone holding a rope to keep a boat from drifting away. It suggests a lot of effort is being used to prevent something from happening. It is a very descriptive and easy phrase. It works well when you want to show that something is being restrained or kept under control.

The dam will hold back the river.
She tried to hold back her tears.
Fear will hold back your true potential.
The belts hold back the heavy boxes.
Do not hold back your great ideas.
He had to hold back the crowd.

Hamper

This word describes a situation where movement is frustrated or made very awkward. It is like trying to run while wearing heavy boots. You can still move, but it is not easy or smooth at all. It is a slightly more descriptive word than just saying slow. It paints a picture of someone struggling against an obstacle. It is very useful for explaining why a project is not going as well as it really should.

The snow will hamper the rescue team.
Budget cuts will hamper the new project.
His long coat will hamper his running.
Heavy clouds will hamper the view tonight.
A broken arm will hamper her typing.
The noise will hamper our quiet meeting.

Clog

Think about a pipe that has too much hair or dirt in it. This word is perfect for describing a situation where there is too much of something in a small space. It means that movement is almost impossible because of a mess. It is a very visual word that readers can easily imagine in their heads. Use it when talking about traffic, drains, or even a busy schedule that has too many tasks to handle.

Too much hair will clog the drain.
The leaves will clog the street gutter.
Accidents will clog the main city road.
Fatty foods can clog your healthy heart.
Paper will clog the big office printer.
Too many files will clog the computer.

Hold up

This is a very common way to talk about a delay. You hear it often when people are talking about being late for a meeting or a party. It is very casual and sounds very natural in spoken English. It tells the reader that something has paused the progress for a short time. It is a great choice for blog posts because it makes the writing feel like a real conversation between two people who are talking.

The accident will hold up the bus.
Do not let me hold up dinner.
The paperwork will hold up the sale.
A phone call will hold up work.
Rain will hold up the painting job.
Construction will hold up the daily traffic.

Obstruct

This word is a bit more formal but still very easy to understand. It means to put something in the way so that people cannot see or pass through. You might see this word on signs or in news stories. It sounds very official and clear. It is often used when talking about the law or safety. Even though it is a longer word, most people know exactly what it means when they see it in a sentence.

The tall building will obstruct our view.
Do not obstruct the fire exit door.
The clouds will obstruct the bright sun.
Parked cars will obstruct the narrow lane.
Debris will obstruct the flowing water pipe.
Please do not obstruct the police officer.

Interfere

Use this word when something is getting involved in a situation where it does not belong. It suggests that an outside force is making things difficult or messy. It is often used when talking about people or signals like radio waves. It shows that the normal process is being bothered by something else. It is a very useful word for explaining why things are not going according to the original plan because of an outside problem.

The noise will interfere with my sleep.
Do not interfere with their private business.
Storms can interfere with the radio signal.
The cat will interfere with my knitting.
Stress can interfere with your daily health.
Arguments will interfere with the team spirit.

Curb

This is a wonderful word to use when you want to talk about limiting something. It is like putting a leash on a dog to keep it from running away. You often hear it when people talk about spending money or bad habits. It means to keep something under control so it does not grow too large. It is a very short and strong word that sounds very confident. It is great for giving advice to others.

We must curb our monthly food spending.
The city wants to curb loud noise.
You should curb your sugar intake daily.
New laws will curb the bad pollution.
He tried to curb his sudden anger.
We need to curb the growing waste.

Halt

This is a very dramatic word that means to stop suddenly. It is like a soldier being told to stand still. It is very effective when you want to show that something was moving fast and then it just stopped. It is a great word for storytelling or news. It is very easy to say and has a lot of power behind it. Use it when you want to make a big impact with your writing style.

The strike will halt all train travel.
The captain told the soldiers to halt.
A sudden scream will halt the party.
The judge will halt the long trial.
Bad weather will halt the construction work.
We must halt the spread of germs.

Frustrate

While this word is often about feelings, it can also mean to prevent a plan from working. It means that all the effort someone is putting in is being wasted because of an obstacle. It is a very descriptive word because it shows both the action and the feeling behind it. Use it when you want to describe a situation where someone is trying very hard but something is keeping them from being successful in their final goal.

The rain will frustrate the moving crew.
Lack of tools will frustrate the builder.
The locked gate will frustrate the thief.
Hard puzzles can frustrate many young kids.
Technical bugs will frustrate the computer user.
Missing parts will frustrate the assembly work.

Bar

This is another very short word that means to block something completely. It comes from the idea of putting a wooden or metal bar across a door. It is very final and means no one is allowed to pass. It is a very strong way to say that something is forbidden or closed off. Because it is so short, it really stands out in a sentence. It is perfect for very clear and simple writing for any reader.

The heavy fence will bar the way.
They will bar him from the club.
The gate will bar the main entrance.
New rules will bar people from smoking.
A fallen rock will bar the tunnel.
The judge will bar the secret evidence.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed learning these 17 other ways to say impede in your daily life. Using different words makes you sound much smarter and helps you explain things better to your friends or coworkers. It is always good to have many options when you are writing or speaking. Try using one of these new words today and see how it feels. Learning new terms is a great way to improve your skills. Thank you for reading my helpful guide.