What does it mean to ‘hinder’ a process?

To ‘hinder’ a process means to make it difficult for that process to occur or progress. This term conveys the idea of creating obstacles or barriers that slow down or obstruct the actions needed to achieve a specific outcome. For instance, in a medical context, factors such as poor communication or inadequate resources might hinder patient care, impacting the effectiveness of treatment.

In contrast, facilitating progress, enhancing efficiency, or encouraging participation would involve actively supporting or improving a process, rather than creating challenges that impede its success. These actions work to promote smoother operations rather than hindering them. Thus, the accurate interpretation of the term is best captured by the understanding of making something more challenging.