3 syllables: im, ped, ed. Stress on ped.
im-PEE-did
/ˌɪˈmpidɪd/
impeded is pronounced im-PEE-did (/ˌɪˈmpidɪd/). It has three syllables (im-ped-ed), with the stress on "ped". Impended describes something that is obstructed or hindered from progressing or advancing. It often refers to a barrier, obstacle, or delay that creates difficulty or interference, preventing smooth movement or development. In use, it highlights the presence of an impediment that affects outcomes or timing.
Impended describes something that is obstructed or hindered from progressing or advancing. It often refers to a barrier, obstacle, or delay that creates difficulty or interference, preventing smooth movement or development. In use, it highlights the presence of an impediment that affects outcomes or timing.
"The project was impeded by a shortage of materials and unclear requirements."
"A dense fog impeded visibility, forcing the sailors to slow down."
"Regulatory red tape impeded the approval process, delaying the launch."
Impeded is /ɪmˈpiː.dɪd/ in careful articulation. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: im-PEED-ed. Start with /ɪ/ as in 'kit', move to /m/ with a closed lips transition, then /ˈpiː/ with a long 'ee' as in 'see', followed by /d/ voiced, and end with /ɪd/ to form the final 'ed' cluster. In connected speech, you may hear a slight reduction: i’m-pid’d, but careful speakers retain the /dɪd/ ending. IPA: US /ɪmˈpiːdɪd/, UK /ɪmˈpiːdɪd/, AU /ɪmˈpiːdɪd/.
Common mistakes include over-splitting the second syllable so it sounds like im-pee-dded, and flattening the /ˈpiː/ to an abrupt /pi/ or misplacing stress as im-PE-ded. To correct: keep the long /iː/ in the second syllable (ˈpiː), and pronounce the final /dɪd/ clearly, not as /dəd/ or /dɪt/. Also avoid reducing the final two syllables into a quick /ɪd/; the /dɪd/ cluster should be distinct.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /ɪmˈpiːdɪd/ is similar, with the second syllable vowel /iː/ staying long. Differences arise in rhoticity and connected speech: US speakers may pronounce the 'r' lightly if surrounding vowels, but impeded is typically non-rhotic, so it remains /ɪmˈpiːdɪd/. UK and AU generally maintain non-rhotic pronunciation; some AU speakers may reduce the final /ɪd/ slightly in casual speech. Overall, Vowel quality of /iː/ is the most stable feature across the three accents.
The difficulty lies in the long /iː/ vowel in the second syllable and the final -ed cluster /ɪd/. The heavy secondary stress on the second syllable makes the tongue travel from /m/ to a high-front position for /iː/. Keeping the /p/ release clean before the /d/ can be tricky in fast speech. Also, rapid movement from /m/ to /p/ and then to /d/ demands precise timing and jaw control to avoid slurring the /ˈpiː/ into /pi/.
Yes. The initial unstressed syllable 'im-' is quick and light, but the critical nucleus is 'pee' in the second syllable, which carries the primary stress. The -ed ending, when spoken carefully, yields /ɪd/, not a mere /d/ or /t/. Practically, you should keep a crisp stop after /p/ and then release into the /ɪd/ ending, ensuring the /m/ tone and the /iː/ vowel maintain their distinctness. IPA reference: ɪmˈpiːdɪd.
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Impeded comes from the Latin impedire, formed from in- (in, on, toward) and pes, ped- (foot). The verb impedire initially meant to hinder by getting in the way physically, as if your foot were blocked. Over time, figurative uses emerged, extending the sense from literally blocking a path to impeding progress or development. The form impeded is the past tense and past participle of impedire, and it entered English with early borrowing from Latin during the medieval and Renaissance periods, aligning with the broader adoption of Latin-based legal, scientific, and scholarly vocabulary. The modern sense of hindrance—an obstacle, delay, or obstruction to moving forward—became common in the 17th and 18th centuries as English speakers described bureaucratic, mechanical, or social impediments. Today, impeded typically functions as an adjective or as a verb (to impede), often in formal or academic writing to describe constraints on action or progress.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "impeded" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "impeded"
-ded sounds
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