Definition

Adjective 1. Made difficult or slow: Describes something whose progress, movement, or action has been obstructed, hindered, or slowed down. Example: The rescue effort was impeded by the collapsed bridge. 2. Blocked or obstructed: Refers to a state where normal function or flow is prevented or restricted. Example: An impeded airway is a serious medical emergency.

Usage

The adjective impeded is used to describe a process, action, or movement that is not proceeding freely or at its normal pace due to some form of obstruction or hindrance. It is often used in formal, technical, or descriptive contexts.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Traffic flow was severely impeded by the accident.
  • Her recovery was impeded by a secondary infection.
  • Without proper tools, our work on the project was impeded.

Advanced Usage

• "to be impeded by": This is the most common construction, introducing the cause of the hindrance.
  • The investigation was impeded by a lack of credible witnesses.
• Used in legal or official language to describe hindered processes.
  • The court found that justice had been impeded.
• Can describe physical, abstract, or metaphorical obstacles.
  • His progress in the race was impeded by a leg injury. (Physical)
  • Economic growth is impeded by high inflation. (Abstract)

Variants and Related Words

• Impede (verb): To delay or block the progress of something.
  • Bad weather impeded the construction work.
• Impediment (noun): Something that impedes; a hindrance or obstruction.
  • A speech impediment.
• Unimpeded (adjective): Not obstructed or hindered.
  • The river flows unimpeded to the sea.

Synonyms

• Hindered
• Obstructed
• Hampered
• Blocked
• Retarded (formal/technical, not common in casual speech)

Antonyms

• Unimpeded
• Facilitated
• Aided
• Unobstructed
• Unhindered

Related Phrases

• Impeded progress: A very common collocation referring to slowed or blocked advancement.
  • The report detailed the impeded progress of the peace talks.
• Impeded view: A blocked line of sight.
  • The pillar gave me an impeded view of the stage.

Adjective

1. made difficult or slow
   • we blamed our impeded progress on lack of money