✅ Component refers to a part, usually one of many different parts, that make up something (I made sure I had all the components to build my bike’s new drivetrain).
✅ Constituent refers to an important and necessary element of something (The mechanic described the functions of the engine’s major constituents).
✅ Component suggests one part of many, all of which are important. Constituent refers to an important and necessary part of the whole (There are many components of a good argument; Flour, fat, and eggs are the essential constituents of a cake).
✅ Component and constituent can both refer to a physical part or a non-physical part (Generosity was a component of his character; the constituents of a molecule).
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✅ Obstacle refers to something that gets in the way of progress (His dislike for math was an obstacle to his dream of being an astronaut).
✅ Obstruction refers to something that blocks passage or progress completely (The road was closed due to an obstruction).
✅ Obstacle suggests a block that can be circumvented or overcome, whereas obstruction suggests something insurmountable (The lack of funding was an obstruction to scientific discoveries; The horse jumped easily over the obstacle).
✅ Both obstruction and obstacle can be used to refer to any kind of block to literal or figurative progress. However, obstruction more commonly refers to physical blocks to literal progress.
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✅ Possible refers to something that could happen (It’s possible that today will be sunny).
✅ Feasible refers to something which could easily happen, and is a desirable thing to happen (The plan was feasible).
✅ Although possible and feasible both refer to things that could happen, something feasible is more likely than something possible (It’s feasible that he’ll want to get pizza tonight; It’s possible that he’ll see a ghost but it’s also possible that he won’t).
✅ Possible suggests something that could theoretically happen. Feasible suggests something that is quite likely to happen, or has a high chance of success.
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