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Predicament vs Obstacle - What's the difference?

predicament | obstacle |

As nouns the difference between predicament and obstacle

is that predicament is a definite class, state or condition while obstacle is something that impedes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress.

predicament

English

Alternative forms

* (chiefly obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A definite class, state or condition.
  • An unfortunate or trying position or condition; a tight spot.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1978 , author= , title=The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism , page=xv (20th edition) , passage=Culture, for me, is the effort to provide a coherent set of answers to the existential predicaments that confront all human beings in the passage of their life.}}
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=December 10 , author=Marc Higginson , title=Bolton 1 - 2 Aston Villa , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The Midlanders will hope the victory will kickstart a campaign that looked to have hit the buffers, but the sense of trepidation enveloping the Reebok Stadium heading into the new year underlines the seriousness of the predicament facing Owen Coyle's men.}}
  • (logic) That which is predicated; a category.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Related terms

    * preach * predicate

    See also

    * can of worms * difficulty * kettle of fish * tight spot * trouble

    References

    * * *

    obstacle

    English

    (Obstacle course)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that impedes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress
    • A big obstacle to understanding the manual was that it had been poorly translated from the Japanese.

    Synonyms

    * impediment * hindrance * hurdle * See also