stumbling block
noun
stum·bling block
ˈstəm-bliŋ- 
1
: an obstacle to progress
2
: an impediment to belief or understanding : perplexity
Examples of stumbling block in a Sentence
Lack of funds is a major stumbling block to the project.
My plans hit a stumbling block.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rashford is under contract with United until June 2028 and earns about £365,000 ($495,000) a week, wages which could prove to be a stumbling block from most clubs outside of the Premier League.
—
Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
The idea that Orthodox Christianity, in particular the Russian Orthodox Church, could be a stumbling block to Holy See-Russia relations is not a new proposition.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 May 2025
That has made the SALT deduction, the amount of state and local taxes that can be written off on federal returns, a stumbling block for the $3.8 trillion tax proposal in the House.
—James Barron, New York Times, 15 May 2025
The Dutchman insisted there would be no problem convincing a target to join Liverpool, but that the fee involved could still be a stumbling block.
—Gregg Evans, New York Times, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
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Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
The idea that Orthodox Christianity, in particular the Russian Orthodox Church, could be a stumbling block to Holy See-Russia relations is not a new proposition.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 May 2025
That has made the SALT deduction, the amount of state and local taxes that can be written off on federal returns, a stumbling block for the $3.8 trillion tax proposal in the House.
—James Barron, New York Times, 15 May 2025
The Dutchman insisted there would be no problem convincing a target to join Liverpool, but that the fee involved could still be a stumbling block.
—Gregg Evans, New York Times, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling block.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stumbling%20block. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stumbling block
noun
stum·bling block
ˈstəm-bliŋ-
1
: an obstacle to belief or understanding
2
: an obstacle to progress
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