uhn-uhb-STRUHK-tid
/ˌʌnəbsˈtɹʌktɪd/
unobstructed is pronounced uhn-uhb-STRUHK-tid (/ˌʌnəbsˈtɹʌktɪd/). Unobstructed means not blocked or hindered; free to move, see, or proceed. It describes a space or line of sight without obstacles, or an unimpeded process or flow. The term conveys clarity and openness, often used in physical, logistical, and metaphorical contexts to emphasize ease of passage or accessibility.
Unobstructed means not blocked or hindered; free to move, see, or proceed. It describes a space or line of sight without obstacles, or an unimpeded process or flow. The term conveys clarity and openness, often used in physical, logistical, and metaphorical contexts to emphasize ease of passage or accessibility.
"The view from the hilltop was unobstructed, giving us a perfect panorama."
"We need unobstructed access to the data server to complete the transfer."
"Her speech was nearly unobstructed by tremors, allowing her message to come through clearly."
Usual pronunciation is /ˌʌn.ɒbˈstrʌk.tɪd/ in US English (stress on the second syllable’s 'struc' part) and /ˌʌn.ɒbˈstrʌk.tɪd/ in UK English. The word breaks down as un-o-b-struct-ed with primary stress on struc (the third syllable). Begin with the short 'uh' /ʌ/ in the first syllable, reduce the 'n' to a light nasal, then syllabify as un-OB-struct-ed. For a fast, natural delivery, connect the vowels lightly and avoid extra syllabic vowels between consonants.
Common errors include misplacing stress, saying un-OB-structed with wrong syllable emphasis, or blending /n/ and /ɒ/ too tightly, causing a murky first vowel. Another frequent slip is pronouncing /strʌk/ as /strək/ or /strukt/ with a reduced vowel. Correction: keep the primary stress on the /strʌk/ segment, ensure the /ɒ/ in /ɒb/ is the short-open 'o' sound, not /ɔː/ or /ɑː/. Practice slowing to articulate /ˌʌn.ɒbˈstrʌk.tɪd/ and use minimal pairs to solidify the difference between /ɒ/ and /ɔː/ before /b/.
In US English, you’ll hear a slightly tighter /ˌʌn.ɒbˈstrʌk.tɪd/ with rhoticity, where the /ɹ/ is pronounced in related sequences. UK English often features a non-rhotic /ˌʌn.ɒbˈstrʌk.tɪd/ and crisper /t/ release in -ed endings, while Australian English tends to be more connected with a lighter /ɪ/ in the final syllable. Vowel quality in /ɒ/ can shift toward a broader /ɒ/ or closer /ɔː/ depending on regional vowel shifts. All variants maintain the /strʌk/ cluster, but vowel length and intonation patterns vary.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /str/ immediately after /ɒ/ and the unstressed arrangement of syllables. The sequence /ɒbstr/ can be tricky for non-native speakers due to rapid consonant blending and the subtle /ɒ/ vs /ɔː/ distinction. Additionally, the /tɪd/ ending must be crisp, not reduced. Focus on the /str/ coordination and keep the /ɒ/ short. Practicing with slow, deliberate articulation helps you produce a clean /str/ release without inserting extra vowels.
Is the syllable boundary naturally felt between /ˈstrʌk/ and /tɪd/ in fast speech, or is it often reduced to /ˈstrʌk.tɪd/ in casual speech? In careful speech you’ll hear a clearer boundary: /ˌʌn.ɒbˈstrʌk.tɪd/, but in rapid speech many speakers connect as /ˌʌn.ɒbˈstrʌk.tɪd/ with a lighter tie between /k/ and /t/. Monitoring this boundary helps with pacing and clarity.
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Unobstructed derives from the prefix un- meaning ‘not’ or ‘the opposite of,’ combined with obstruct. Obstruct comes from Late Latin obstructus, from ob- ‘toward, against’ + substrūere ‘to thrust or push up,’ from Latin sub- ‘under’ + trūere ‘to thrust or push.’ The sense evolution moved from “blocked, impeded” to “not blocked,” with legal, architectural, or navigational contexts emphasizing free passage. The modern use expands to abstract impediments, such as censorship or bureaucratic delays, implying smooth operation or visibility. The first known uses in English appear in the 15th–17th centuries, often in legal or engineering texts, but the core sense of not being hindered is present in earlier Latinate forms. Over time, the term narrowed to emphasize absence of physical obstructions and later extended to metaphorical forms of unobstructed communication or movement. In contemporary usage, unobstructed frequently collocates with lines of sight, access, and airflow, underscoring an ideal state of openness.
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Words that rhyme with "unobstructed"
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