Synonyms for barrier
ˈbær i ərbar·ri·er

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.8 / 4 votes

1. barrier

   A bar is something that is or may be firmly fixed, ordinarily with intent to prevent entrance or egress; as, the bars of a prison cell; the bars of a wood-lot. A barrier obstructs, but is not necessarily impassable. Barrier is used of objects more extensive than those to which bar is ordinarily applied. A mountain range may be a barrier to exploration; but a mass of sand across the entrance to a harbor is called a bar. Discovered falsehood is a bar to confidence. Barricade has become practically a technical name for an improvised street fortification, and, unless in some way modified, is usually so understood. A parapet is a low or breast-high wall, as about the edge of a roof, terrace, etc., especially, in military use, such a wall for the protection of troops; a rampart is the embankment surrounding a fort, on which the parapet is raised; the word rampart is often used as including the parapet. Bulwark is a general word for any defensive wall or rampart; its only technical use at present is in nautical language, where it signifies the raised side of a ship above the upper deck, topped by the rail. Compare BOUNDARY; IMPEDIMENT.

   Synonyms:
   bar, barricade, breastwork, bulwark, hindrance, obstacle, obstruction, parapet, prohibition, rampart, restraint, restriction

   Antonyms:
   admittance, entrance, opening, passage, road, thoroughfare, transit, way

   Preposition:
   A barrier to progress, against invasion; a barrier between nations.

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. barriernoun

   a structure or object that impedes free movement

   Synonyms:
   roadblock

2. barrier, roadblocknoun

   any condition that makes it difficult to make progress or to achieve an objective

   "intolerance is a barrier to understanding"

   Synonyms:
   roadblock, barricade

3. barriernoun

   anything serving to maintain separation by obstructing vision or access

   Synonyms:
   roadblock

Matched Categories

1. • Mechanism
   • Obstacle
   • Obstruction

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. barriernoun

   Synonyms:
   obstruction, obstacle, hinderance, bar, BARRICADE, stop, impediment

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. barriernoun

   Synonyms:
   obstruction, impediment, obstacle, hindrance, barricade

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "barrier":

   obstacle, barrera, fence, impediment, wall, separating, barrière, hurdle, gate, hindrance, barriers, roadblock, obstacles, separation, constraint, barricade, obstruction, rail

How to pronounce barrier?

How to say barrier in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use barrier in a sentence?

1. Daniel J. Boorstin:

   Formerly a public man needed a private secretary for a barrier between himself and the public. Nowadays he has a press secretary to keep him properly in the public eye.

2. Paul Cohen:

   [T]oday we view computers as tools to be activated by a few clicks or keywords, in large part because we are separated by a language barrier, the goal of CwC is to bridge that barrier, and in the process encourage the development of new problem-solving technologies.

3. Missy Cummings:

   There’s no technical barrier to this happening, the only barrier is FAA regulation.

4. Kris Kobach:

   If you define a barrier to voting as just having to do something before you vote, every state has that barrier, virtually every state requires proof of address.

5. M Scott Peck:

   Problems do not go away. They must be worked through or else they remain, forever a barrier to the growth and development of the spirit.