impediment

noun

1 the country's debt was a serious impediment to economic improvement:

hindrance, obstruction, obstacle, barrier, bar, handicap, block, check, curb, brake, restraint, restriction, limitation, encumbrance, deterrent;

drawback, setback, difficulty, problem, issue, snag, catch, hitch, stumbling block;

informal fly in the ointment, hiccup, facer;

British, informal spanner in the works;

North American, informal monkey wrench in the works;

rare cumber.

▷antonyms benefit.

2 she spoke with an impediment:

speech defect, speech impediment, stammer, stutter, lisp;

hesitancy, faltering.