- Daily Crossword
- Word Puzzle
- Word Finder
- Word of the Day
- Synonym of the Day
- Word of the Year
- Language stories
- All featured
- Gender and sexuality
- All pop culture
- Writing hub
- Grammar essentials
- Commonly confused
- All writing tips
- Pop culture
- Writing tips
Advertisement
noun as in obstruction, hindrance
Strongest matches
- disadvantage
- restriction
- stumbling block
Strong matches
- encumbrance
- prohibition
- retardation
Weak matches
- dead weight
Example Sentences
Overall, we consider these to be minor impediments because a rechargeable warmer’s heating time is guaranteed to be longer than a chemically activated option, and the custom control is far greater than a lighter fluid-filled hand warmer.
The sympathy created by his fake impediment lands the job for him.
You would never guess that a few years ago, Gorman was struggling with a speech impediment.
One thing you may not have known is that Gorman overcame a speech impediment.
He insisted that money was not an impediment for state-run vaccination programs.
The edict says “any persons that can express any legal impediment can denounce” the nuptials.
Despite the legal impediment, Hamza convinced Traverso to marry him.
The traffic, as in all of Los Angeles, is a serious impediment.
One obvious impediment is the difficulty of getting into the country.
The war has been a constant impediment to their grand tourism plans.
Wood may be cut close to the beach, and embarked without impediment.
The unfortunate gentleman had an impediment in his speech, and this was noted down as proving him to be a German, of course!
They are an impediment to the progress of knowledge, only when they are permanently acquiesced in.
It is here that the only practical impediment occurs to the passage of heavy shipping, between Buffalo and Chicago.
Religion is the greatest impediment to the progress of human happiness.
Related Words
Words related to impediment are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word impediment . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.
noun as in burdensome restraint
- cross to bear
noun as in barrier; blockage
- obstruction
noun as in obstruction to goal
noun as in physical obstruction
- fortification
- gully/gulley
noun as in obstruction
Viewing 5 / 63 related words
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Speech impediment synonyms
What is another word for speech impediment .
- speech defect
- speech disorder
- hesitant speech
- speech impairment
- language impairment
- Bipolar Disorder
- Therapy Center
- When To See a Therapist
- Types of Therapy
- Best Online Therapy
- Best Couples Therapy
- Managing Stress
- Sleep and Dreaming
- Understanding Emotions
- Self-Improvement
- Healthy Relationships
- Student Resources
- Personality Types
- Sweepstakes
- Guided Meditations
- Verywell Mind Insights
- 2024 Verywell Mind 25
- Mental Health in the Classroom
- Editorial Process
- Meet Our Review Board
- Crisis Support
Types of Speech Impediments
Phynart Studio / Getty Images
Articulation Errors
Ankyloglossia, treating speech disorders.
A speech impediment, also known as a speech disorder , is a condition that can affect a person’s ability to form sounds and words, making their speech difficult to understand.
Speech disorders generally become evident in early childhood, as children start speaking and learning language. While many children initially have trouble with certain sounds and words, most are able to speak easily by the time they are five years old. However, some speech disorders persist. Approximately 5% of children aged three to 17 in the United States experience speech disorders.
There are many different types of speech impediments, including:
- Articulation errors
This article explores the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the different types of speech disorders.
Speech impediments that break the flow of speech are known as disfluencies. Stuttering is the most common form of disfluency, however there are other types as well.
Symptoms and Characteristics of Disfluencies
These are some of the characteristics of disfluencies:
- Repeating certain phrases, words, or sounds after the age of 4 (For example: “O…orange,” “I like…like orange juice,” “I want…I want orange juice”)
- Adding in extra sounds or words into sentences (For example: “We…uh…went to buy…um…orange juice”)
- Elongating words (For example: Saying “orange joooose” instead of "orange juice")
- Replacing words (For example: “What…Where is the orange juice?”)
- Hesitating while speaking (For example: A long pause while thinking)
- Pausing mid-speech (For example: Stopping abruptly mid-speech, due to lack of airflow, causing no sounds to come out, leading to a tense pause)
In addition, someone with disfluencies may also experience the following symptoms while speaking:
- Vocal tension and strain
- Head jerking
- Eye blinking
- Lip trembling
Causes of Disfluencies
People with disfluencies tend to have neurological differences in areas of the brain that control language processing and coordinate speech, which may be caused by:
- Genetic factors
- Trauma or infection to the brain
- Environmental stressors that cause anxiety or emotional distress
- Neurodevelopmental conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Articulation disorders occur when a person has trouble placing their tongue in the correct position to form certain speech sounds. Lisping is the most common type of articulation disorder.
Symptoms and Characteristics of Articulation Errors
These are some of the characteristics of articulation disorders:
- Substituting one sound for another . People typically have trouble with ‘r’ and ‘l’ sounds. (For example: Being unable to say “rabbit” and saying “wabbit” instead)
- Lisping , which refers specifically to difficulty with ‘s’ and ‘z’ sounds. (For example: Saying “thugar” instead of “sugar” or producing a whistling sound while trying to pronounce these letters)
- Omitting sounds (For example: Saying “coo” instead of “school”)
- Adding sounds (For example: Saying “pinanio” instead of “piano”)
- Making other speech errors that can make it difficult to decipher what the person is saying. For instance, only family members may be able to understand what they’re trying to say.
Causes of Articulation Errors
Articulation errors may be caused by:
- Genetic factors, as it can run in families
- Hearing loss , as mishearing sounds can affect the person’s ability to reproduce the sound
- Changes in the bones or muscles that are needed for speech, including a cleft palate (a hole in the roof of the mouth) and tooth problems
- Damage to the nerves or parts of the brain that coordinate speech, caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy , for instance
Ankyloglossia, also known as tongue-tie, is a condition where the person’s tongue is attached to the bottom of their mouth. This can restrict the tongue’s movement and make it hard for the person to move their tongue.
Symptoms and Characteristics of Ankyloglossia
Ankyloglossia is characterized by difficulty pronouncing ‘d,’ ‘n,’ ‘s,’ ‘t,’ ‘th,’ and ‘z’ sounds that require the person’s tongue to touch the roof of their mouth or their upper teeth, as their tongue may not be able to reach there.
Apart from speech impediments, people with ankyloglossia may also experience other symptoms as a result of their tongue-tie. These symptoms include:
- Difficulty breastfeeding in newborns
- Trouble swallowing
- Limited ability to move the tongue from side to side or stick it out
- Difficulty with activities like playing wind instruments, licking ice cream, or kissing
- Mouth breathing
Causes of Ankyloglossia
Ankyloglossia is a congenital condition, which means it is present from birth. A tissue known as the lingual frenulum attaches the tongue to the base of the mouth. People with ankyloglossia have a shorter lingual frenulum, or it is attached further along their tongue than most people’s.
Dysarthria is a condition where people slur their words because they cannot control the muscles that are required for speech, due to brain, nerve, or organ damage.
Symptoms and Characteristics of Dysarthria
Dysarthria is characterized by:
- Slurred, choppy, or robotic speech
- Rapid, slow, or soft speech
- Breathy, hoarse, or nasal voice
Additionally, someone with dysarthria may also have other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing and inability to move their tongue, lips, or jaw easily.
Causes of Dysarthria
Dysarthria is caused by paralysis or weakness of the speech muscles. The causes of the weakness can vary depending on the type of dysarthria the person has:
- Central dysarthria is caused by brain damage. It may be the result of neuromuscular diseases, such as cerebral palsy, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Central dysarthria may also be caused by injuries or illnesses that damage the brain, such as dementia, stroke, brain tumor, or traumatic brain injury .
- Peripheral dysarthria is caused by damage to the organs involved in speech. It may be caused by congenital structural problems, trauma to the mouth or face, or surgery to the tongue, mouth, head, neck, or voice box.
Apraxia, also known as dyspraxia, verbal apraxia, or apraxia of speech, is a neurological condition that can cause a person to have trouble moving the muscles they need to create sounds or words. The person’s brain knows what they want to say, but is unable to plan and sequence the words accordingly.
Symptoms and Characteristics of Apraxia
These are some of the characteristics of apraxia:
- Distorting sounds: The person may have trouble pronouncing certain sounds, particularly vowels, because they may be unable to move their tongue or jaw in the manner required to produce the right sound. Longer or more complex words may be especially harder to manage.
- Being inconsistent in their speech: For instance, the person may be able to pronounce a word correctly once, but may not be able to repeat it. Or, they may pronounce it correctly today and differently on another day.
- Grasping for words: The person may appear to be searching for the right word or sound, or attempt the pronunciation several times before getting it right.
- Making errors with the rhythm or tone of speech: The person may struggle with using tone and inflection to communicate meaning. For instance, they may not stress any of the words in a sentence, have trouble going from one syllable in a word to another, or pause at an inappropriate part of a sentence.
Causes of Apraxia
Apraxia occurs when nerve pathways in the brain are interrupted, which can make it difficult for the brain to send messages to the organs involved in speaking. The causes of these neurological disturbances can vary depending on the type of apraxia the person has:
- Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS): This condition is present from birth and is often hereditary. A person may be more likely to have it if a biological relative has a learning disability or communication disorder.
- Acquired apraxia of speech (AOS): This condition can occur in adults, due to brain damage as a result of a tumor, head injury , stroke, or other illness that affects the parts of the brain involved in speech.
If you have a speech impediment, or suspect your child might have one, it can be helpful to visit your healthcare provider. Your primary care physician can refer you to a speech-language pathologist, who can evaluate speech, diagnose speech disorders, and recommend treatment options.
The diagnostic process may involve a physical examination as well as psychological, neurological, or hearing tests, in order to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.
Treatment for speech disorders often involves speech therapy, which can help you learn how to move your muscles and position your tongue correctly in order to create specific sounds. It can be quite effective in improving your speech.
Children often grow out of milder speech disorders; however, special education and speech therapy can help with more serious ones.
For ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, a minor surgery known as a frenectomy can help detach the tongue from the bottom of the mouth.
A Word From Verywell
A speech impediment can make it difficult to pronounce certain sounds, speak clearly, or communicate fluently.
Living with a speech disorder can be frustrating because people may cut you off while you’re speaking, try to finish your sentences, or treat you differently. It can be helpful to talk to your healthcare providers about how to cope with these situations.
You may also benefit from joining a support group, where you can connect with others living with speech disorders.
National Library of Medicine. Speech disorders . Medline Plus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Language and speech disorders .
Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Stuttering .
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick statistics about voice, speech, and language .
Cleveland Clinic. Speech impediment .
Lee H, Sim H, Lee E, Choi D. Disfluency characteristics of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms . J Commun Disord . 2017;65:54-64. doi:10.1016/j.jcomdis.2016.12.001
Nemours Foundation. Speech problems .
Penn Medicine. Speech and language disorders .
Cleveland Clinic. Tongue-tie .
University of Rochester Medical Center. Ankyloglossia .
Cleveland Clinic. Dysarthria .
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Apraxia of speech .
Cleveland Clinic. Childhood apraxia of speech .
Stanford Children’s Hospital. Speech sound disorders in children .
Abbastabar H, Alizadeh A, Darparesh M, Mohseni S, Roozbeh N. Spatial distribution and the prevalence of speech disorders in the provinces of Iran . J Med Life . 2015;8(Spec Iss 2):99-104.
By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.
- Cambridge Dictionary +Plus
Synonyms and antonyms of impediment in English
Word of the Day
skip out on something
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
to avoid doing something that you should do; to leave someone when they need your help
It’s not really my thing (How to say you don’t like something)
Learn more with +Plus
- Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
- Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
- Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
- Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
- English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
- English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
- English–Dutch Dutch–English
- English–French French–English
- English–German German–English
- English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
- English–Italian Italian–English
- English–Japanese Japanese–English
- English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
- English–Polish Polish–English
- English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
- English–Spanish Spanish–English
- English–Swedish Swedish–English
- Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
To add ${headword} to a word list please sign up or log in.
Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one.
{{message}}
Something went wrong.
There was a problem sending your report.
Synonyms of impediment
- as in obstacle
- More from M-W
- To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In
Thesaurus Definition of impediment
Synonyms & Similar Words
- obstruction
- embarrassment
- interference
- encumbrance
- stumbling block
- disadvantage
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of impediment in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impediment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to impediment
Merriam-Webster and LACMA: Words and...
Merriam-Webster and LACMA: Words and Pictures
When a dictionary talks to a museum
Thesaurus Entries Near impediment
impedimenta
Cite this Entry
“Impediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impediment. Accessed 30 Aug. 2024.
More from Merriam-Webster on impediment
Nglish: Translation of impediment for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of impediment for Arabic Speakers
Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!
Can you solve 4 words at once?
Word of the day, mise-en-scène.
See Definitions and Examples »
Get Word of the Day daily email!
Popular in Grammar & Usage
Plural and possessive names: a guide, 31 useful rhetorical devices, more commonly misspelled words, why does english have so many silent letters, your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, popular in wordplay, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, it's a scorcher words for the summer heat, 7 shakespearean insults to make life more interesting, birds say the darndest things, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), games & quizzes.
- Help Center
Thesaurus for Impediment
Related terms for impediment - synonyms, antonyms and sentences with impediment, similar meaning.
- obstruction
- encumbrance
- restriction
- stumbling block
- disadvantage
Opposite meaning
- furtherance
- convenience
- advancement
- encouragement
Common usage
- be one in the eye for
- proceed delicately
- like getting blood out of a stone
- carry cargo
- be worthless
- insignificant amounts of
- limited array
- limited array of
- insignificant amount
- negligible amount
- paltry amount
- be of no value
- insignificant amount of
- significant numbers of
- more holes than a swiss cheese
- more holes than swiss cheese
- deal with an issue
- through thick and thin
- achilles' heel
- face your demons
Sentence Examples
Proper usage in context.
- No treaty is ever an impediment to a cheat Sophocles
- She also has a slight dysphasic speech impediment
- A serious impediment to scientific progress
- And the single greatest impediment to peace
- He has a slight speech impediment, a problem pronouncing S's
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Synonyms for speech impediment include stutter, stammer, impairment, impediment, speech disorder, speech defect, faltering, hesitancy, hesitant speech and lisp. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!
Another way to say Speech Impediment? Synonyms for Speech Impediment (other words and phrases for Speech Impediment).
Most related words/phrases with sentence examples define Speech impediment meaning and usage. ... Related terms for speech impediment- synonyms, antonyms and sentences with speech impediment. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. Parts of speech. nouns. verbs. Synonyms Similar meaning. View all. stutter. stammer.
English synonyms powered by Oxford Languages speech impediment noun In the sense of impediment : defect in person's speech she spoke with an impediment Synonyms impediment • speech defect • stammer • stutter • lisp • hesitancy • faltering
Find 71 different ways to say IMPEDIMENT, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.
Synonyms and analogies for "speech impediment" in English grouped by meanings. Translation Context Grammar Check Synonyms Conjugation. Conjugation Documents Dictionary Collaborative Dictionary Grammar Expressio Reverso Corporate. ... Most frequent synonyms in English-1K, -2K, -3K, -4K ...
SPEECH IMPEDIMENT definition: 1. a difficulty in speaking clearly, such as a lisp or stammer 2. a difficulty in speaking clearly…. Learn more.
The meaning of SPEECH IMPEDIMENT is a condition that makes it difficult to speak normally.
Synonyms for Speech impairment. 234 other terms for speech impairment- words and phrases with similar meaning. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. words. phrases. ... impediment in one's speech. n. dumb man. speech difficulty. Ad-free experience & advanced browser extensions.
10 Speech impediment synonyms. What are another words for Speech impediment? Stutter, stammer, speech defect, speech disorder. Full list of synonyms for Speech impediment is here.
balls-up. foul-up. screw-up. unsuccessfulness. more . "For years, he had rationalized that Muriel or any other woman could have been an impediment to his ambitions for financial and social success.". Noun. . A defect in a person's speech, such as a lisp or stammer.
SPEECH IMPEDIMENT meaning: 1. a difficulty in speaking clearly, such as a lisp or stammer 2. a difficulty in speaking clearly…. Learn more.
All you need to know about "SPEECH IMPEDIMENT" in one place: definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, grammar insights, collocations, examples, and translations.
However, some speech disorders persist. Approximately 5% of children aged three to 17 in the United States experience speech disorders. There are many different types of speech impediments, including: Disfluency. Articulation errors. Ankyloglossia. Dysarthria. Apraxia. This article explores the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the different ...
IMPEDIMENT - Synonyms, related words and examples | Cambridge English Thesaurus
A disorder affecting the capacity to produce normal speech.... Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, video.
Synonyms for Speech Impediments (other words and phrases for Speech Impediments). Synonyms for Speech impediments. 61 other terms for speech impediments- words and phrases with similar meaning. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. words. phrases. Parts of speech. nouns. suggest new.
Find more synonyms and antonyms for 'impediment' at bab.la. bab.la - Online dictionaries, vocabulary, conjugation, grammar ... English synonyms powered by Oxford Languages ... In the sense of defect in person's speech she spoke with an impediment Synonyms speech defect • speech impediment • stammer • stutter • lisp • hesitancy ...
Synonyms for IMPEDIMENT: obstacle, hurdle, obstruction, embarrassment, barrier, hindrance, interference, burden; Antonyms of IMPEDIMENT: incentive, impetus, stimulus ...
Synonyms of 'impediment' • obstacle, barrier, check, bar [...] More . Collocations with the word 'impediment' ... The latest instalment of the Learning English blog takes a look at direct speech: improve your English with Collins. Read more. Collins Official SCRABBLE™ Words 2024.
Related terms for impediment- synonyms, antonyms and sentences with impediment. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. Parts of speech. nouns. verbs. adjectives. Synonyms ... She also has a slight dysphasic speech impediment. A serious impediment to scientific progress. And the single greatest impediment to peace. He has ...
All you need to know about "IMPEDIMENT" in one place: definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, grammar insights, collocations, examples, and translations.
Plural for a defect in a person's speech, such as a lisp or stammer. lisps. stammers. stutters. falterings. hesitancy. speech impediments. speech disorders. impairment.