Synonyms for molestar
- Feeling verbs: molestar, estorbar
- Verbs that are used with infinitive whose meaning is ‘not allow to do an action’: no dejar, impedir
- Verbs that are used with a noun and they indicate ‘difficulties and hurdles’: obstaculizar, obstruir, dificultar, entorpecer
The only difference between these two verbs is the register: impedir is exclusively literary, whereas dejar is colloquial. Unlike the previous group, the direct object of the following verbs: obstaculizar, obstruir, dificultar y entorpecer can only be a noun. In the case of obstruir, you have to use a concrete noun. Dificultar and entorpecer are used with nouns meaning actions (processes, inquiries, measures …). The four verbs are part of a a literary register. Their meaning is as follows:
- Obstaculizar means “put obstacles”, there are some objects or circumstances that don’t allow a process to develop in a normal way. It is the most general.
- Obstruir means block, put some obstacles in some ways or conducts.
- Dificultar means to add some difficulties, make a process more difficult. It is the most used.
- Entorpecer means to make a process slower and more uncomfortable. It is the opposite of agilizar.
Este camión obstruye el tráfico (no deja que pasen coches) Este camión obstaculiza el tráfico (no deja que pasen coches) Este camión entorpece el tráfico (lo hace más lento)
Impossible *dificulta el tráfico (no puede ser difícil)
Esta actitud obstaculiza la comunicación (no deja que fluya, que siga la comunicación) Esta actitud entorpece, dificulta la comunicación (hace la comunicación más incómoda, lenta o difícil)
Impossible Esta actitud *obstruye la comunicación (no es un objeto)
Authors / Georgy Nuzhdin, Paula Salgado Reig