headwind

1. (nautical, physics) A wind that blows directly against the course of a vehicle, like an aircraft, train, or ship.

2. (transferred sense) A strong force that impedes or reverses progress.Examples: ""Domestic economic activity has been gaining traction in spite of formidable headwinds from external developments," the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its monthly bulletin."; "At the same time, Faludi, who is working on a new book about the headwinds feminism is facing, suggested that the movement itself has grown sectarian and insular."; "“The increasing appetite for obesity drugs will have myriad implications, boosting sectors such as biotech and creating headwinds for industries such as food and beverage,” the bank’s report said."