balk vs impediment

balk and impediment both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
balk	Yes	No	Yes	No
impediment	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, balk and impediment are synonyms defined as:

balk and impediment: something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress

Other synonyms of balk include baulk, check, deterrent, handicap, hinderance, hindrance.

balk (noun)	impediment (noun)
an illegal pitching motion while runners are on base	any structure that makes progress difficult
one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof	something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
the area on a billiard table behind the balkline

balk (verb)	impediment (verb)
refuse to comply