[syn: hindrance, hinderance, interference]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hindrance \Hin"drance\, n. [See Hinder, v. t.]
1. The act of hindering, or the state of being hindered.
[1913 Webster]
2. That which hinders; an impediment.
[1913 Webster]
What various hindrances we meet. --Cowper.
[1913 Webster]
Something between a hindrance and a help.
--Wordsworth.
Syn: Impediment; obstruction; obstacle; difficulty;
interruption; check; delay; restraint.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
hindrance
n 1: something immaterial that interferes with or delays action
or progress [syn: hindrance, hinderance, deterrent,
impediment, balk, baulk, check, handicap]
2: any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome [syn:
hindrance, hinderance, hitch, preventive,
preventative, encumbrance, incumbrance, interference]
3: the act of hindering or obstructing or impeding [syn:
hindrance, hinderance, interference]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
83 Moby Thesaurus words for "hindrance":
afterthought, arrest, arrestation, barrier, bind, block, blockage,
bureaucratic delay, check, clog, constraint, control, cooling,
cooling down, cooling off, cumbrance, curb, curtailment,
deceleration, delay, delayage, delayed reaction, detention,
deterrent, double take, dragging, drawback, encumbrance, halt,
hang-up, hitch, holdup, impedance, impediment, inhibition,
injunction, interdict, interim, jam, lag, lagging, legal restraint,
limitation, logjam, monopoly, moratorium, obstacle, obstruction,
paperasserie, pause, prevention, prohibition, protection,
protectionism, protective tariff, rationing, red tape, red-tapeism,
red-tapery, rein, reprieve, respite, restraint, restraint of trade,
retardance, retardation, retrenchment, self-control, slow-up,
slowdown, slowing down, slowness, snag, stay, stay of execution,
stop, stoppage, suspension, tariff wall, thought control, tie-up,
time lag, wait