obstructionist
妨害者
解説 Definition
妨害者、つまり何かの達成や進行を故意に阻止する人を表します。政治や組織の文脈では、協力せず議事や計画を遅らせる人・勢力を指すことが多いです。
An obstructionist is a person who tries to delay, block, or prevent progress. The word is often used in politics, meetings, or public debates when someone stops plans from moving forward. It usually has a negative meaning.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
obstructionist は obstruct「ふさぐ・妨げる」を知っていると覚えやすい語です。obstruction は「妨害・障害」、-ist は「〜する人」なので、「妨害する側の人」と考えます。opponent や critic は反対・批判だけでもよいのに対し、obstructionist は意図的に遅らせたり通させなかったりする行動まで含みやすいです。
Build it step by step: `obstruct` means block, `obstruction` is the act of blocking, and `-ist` is a person. So an `obstructionist` is not just someone who disagrees, but someone who tries to slow things down or stop them. Compare it with `opponent`: an opponent may resist, but an obstructionist actively gets in the way.
例文
The obstructionists in parliament blocked every reform bill proposed by the government.
議会の妨害者たちは政府が提案したすべての改革法案を阻止した。
Critics labeled the opposition leaders obstructionists for refusing to cooperate on important issues.
批評家は重要な問題について協力を拒否した野党指導者たちを妨害者と呼んだ。
The obstructionists within the management team slowed down the company's progress.
経営陣内の妨害者たちは会社の進捗を遅らせた。
obstructionist の類義語・関連語
obstructionist の語源・成り立ち Etymology
obstructionist はラテン語 ob-「逆らって」+ struere「積み上げる」から来た obstruct に、-ion と -ist が付いた語。『前に物を積んで進路をふさぐ人』という像から妨害者となり、construct や instruct も同じ struere 系です。
Obstructionist comes from obstruction, which is based on obstruct. Obstruct comes from Latin ob-, meaning "against," and struere, meaning "to build" or "pile up," giving the image of blocking a path by piling things in front of it. Related English words include construct and instruct, which share the same Latin root. Obstructionist later came to mean a person who deliberately blocks action or progress.
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