These words mean to put difficulties or obstacles in the way or progress of. Hinder is the most general term and the least strong in meaning. Specifically, to hinder is to delay or slow down a person or thing, and it may imply either active interference or an accidental action or condition.

• The child’s hysterical crying hindered the doctor from completing his examination; Bad weather hindered the military operation; Overcrowded schoolrooms hinder the education of our children.

Impede is to delay by a deliberate act, and it retains much of its original meaning of fettering the feet. Impede suggests stronger obstacles than does hinder and implies a forcible slowing down that is frustrating and even painful.

• The crowds at the scene of the accident impeded the arrival of the ambulance; Many a man is impeded in his career by a lack of belief in himself.

Hamper means to impede by placing restraints of any sort which make action burdensome and difficult.

• Hampered by four small whining children, the young mother had difficulty in getting on the bus; Too strong a sense of duty hampered him from enjoying life.

Encumber , like hamper , suggests a hindering of action or motion by outside forces. However, in the case of encumber , the hindering comes about by the placing of a burden rather than by that of a restraint.

• The little donkey was so encumbered with produce for market that he could scarcely walk; Debts encumbered the young family while the children were small.

Obstruct is the strongest term in this group. It implies not only a delay in action or movement, but often a complete halt by the placing of large, immovable objects in one’s path.

• The excavation has obstructed all traffic in this street for the past week; The bully obstructed the path of the small boy who was hurrying home.