Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - hindrance

~ n 1 something or someone that makes it difficult for you to do something successfully  (be a hindrance to)  (Lack of funding was a serious hindrance to the progress of our research. | be more of a hindrance than a help (=try to help but cause more problems)) 2 formal the act of making it difficult for someone to do something  (- see also without let or hindrance let2 (2))