source: the simpsons dungeon GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

HINDER, IMPEDE, OBSTRUCT, BLOCK mean to interfere with the activity or progress of.

HINDER stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.

e.g. rain hindered the climb

IMPEDE implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

e.g. tight clothing that impedes movement

OBSTRUCT implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.

e.g. the view was obstructed by billboards

BLOCK implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.

e.g. a landslide blocked the road

verb with object

delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder:

｟かたく｠ 〈行為･進行など〉を妨害［じゃま］する, 遅らせる(→ prevent)

e.g. the sap causes swelling that can impede breathing.

late 16th century: from Latin impedire ‘shackle the feet of’, based on pes, ped- ‘foot’. Compare with impeach.