chiefobstacle
nounUK /ˌtʃiːf ˈɒbstəkl/
US /ˌtʃiːf ˈɑːbstəkl/
The biggest thing that stops you from doing what you want.
The chief obstacle to our picnic was the heavy rain.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The most important problem that slows down a plan or project.
Cost was the chief obstacle to building the new playground.
3. The main thing standing in the way of someone's success.
Her fear of speaking in public was the chief obstacle to winning the contest.
4. The leading difficulty that a team must solve first.
The chief obstacle for the explorers was the wide river.