Hurdle

/ˈhɜːdl̩/

Synonyms for "hurdle" (125 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (25)

Strong matches (38)

Noun(8 words)
difficult to learndiscomfiturehard to dohobgoblinshumphurdimpedimentinto the barrier

Related words (62)

Show 33 more words
one small difficultyoverovercomeoverjumpoverleapoverskippole vaultpouncepounce onpounce uponrestraintrubrunning broad jumprunning high jumpsaut de basqueski jumpskipsnagspringstartstart asidestart upsteeplechasestumbling blockstumbling stonesurmountthrowtour jetetraverseupdiveupleapupspringvault
Adjective(1 words)
logistical friction

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: vault, and jump, bar, barrera, barrier.
  • Sentence evidence is available for hurdle, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "hurdle".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "hurdle"

Keep "hurdle" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "hurdle" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "hurdle", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "hurdle" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

12 entries

More specific

9 entries
athletic hurdlebarrier clearancebureaucratic hurdlecapital budgeting hurdlefinancial hurdlehurdle clearanceinvestment hurdlepolicy hurdleregulatory hurdle

Collocations

10 entries
administrative hurdlebureaucratic hurdlefinancial hurdlefunding hurdlehurdle racehurdle ratemajor hurdlepolicy hurdleregulatory hurdlesocial hurdle

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

2 entries

Sample sentences

21 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

He'll be drawn on a hurdle to be half hanged, and then he'll be taken down and sliced before his own face, and then his inside will be taken out and burnt while he looks on, and then his head will be chopped off, and he'll be cut into quarters. That's the sentence.

Source: tatoeba (1937253)

The biggest hurdle for pupils writing the exam was question fourteen.

Source: tatoeba (6207969)

The hurdler didn't clear the final hurdle.

Source: tatoeba (8983320)

I wish I could run too, but it's too much of a hurdle.

Source: tatoeba (10268318)

Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "hurdle"?

Closest matches include vault, and jump, bar, barrera, barrier.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "hurdle"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "hurdle"