as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the only stumbling block to our move across the country was finding someone to adopt our cats
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Recent Examples of stumbling block
Affordability, or the lack thereof, has long been a major stumbling block for electric vehicle adoption.
—
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
Russia has tried to frame European nations as stumbling blocks to the peace agreement the Trump administration has pledged to broker.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
One potential stumbling block for MP was its smaller ownership stake still held by China’s Shenghe Resources, which had helped Litinsky buy out Molycorp in 2017.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
One of the stumbling blocks — the principal stumbling block — to his doing more with Presley was the boy’s manager, Bob Neal, who seemed infuriatingly unsusceptible to persuasion, promotion, or even recognition of his own (let alone his artist’s) ever-increasing opportunities.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
Russia has tried to frame European nations as stumbling blocks to the peace agreement the Trump administration has pledged to broker.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
One potential stumbling block for MP was its smaller ownership stake still held by China’s Shenghe Resources, which had helped Litinsky buy out Molycorp in 2017.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
One of the stumbling blocks — the principal stumbling block — to his doing more with Presley was the boy’s manager, Bob Neal, who seemed infuriatingly unsusceptible to persuasion, promotion, or even recognition of his own (let alone his artist’s) ever-increasing opportunities.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling block
Noun
-
Accepting the award, Wilson was quick to credit her teammates and reflect on the obstacles the Aces faced this season.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
22 Sep. 2025
-
With thirty thousand French soldiers, Leclerc’s mission faced many obstacles.—
Marlene L. Daut
September 22,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Beginning in November 2025, however, the program will expand to every parent in the state—no income limits, no eligibility hurdles.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
22 Sep. 2025
-
There are more hurdles to overcome.—
Lauren Uppal,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
CaBot diagnosed an obstruction in the small intestines, possibly owing to volvulus or a hernia.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Robinson faces seven felonies, including discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering for allegedly instructing his roommate not to cooperate with authorities.—
Cheryl McCloud,
Freep.com,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen was an embarrassment once again on Tuesday night, but even that couldn't distract from the brilliance of Shohei Ohtani.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
These authors include religious practice and philosophical musings without the embarrassment of their Catholic literary contemporaries.—
Anna Bruno
September 19,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling%20block. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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