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
Irving's complicated journey with leadership has been well documented, from his controversial trade request from Cleveland to stumbling blocks in Boston and Brooklyn.
—
Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 7 Apr. 2026
The stumbling blocks to dialogue are immense.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Knowing math can present a stumbling block for many students, so Brewer breaks down concepts and makes learning about numbers fun.
—Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
But over the past few years, Muslim authors have produced bracingly original stories that foreground faith as a cornerstone of identity rather than a stumbling block.
—Hafsa Lodi, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 7 Apr. 2026
The stumbling blocks to dialogue are immense.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Knowing math can present a stumbling block for many students, so Brewer breaks down concepts and makes learning about numbers fun.
—Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
But over the past few years, Muslim authors have produced bracingly original stories that foreground faith as a cornerstone of identity rather than a stumbling block.
—Hafsa Lodi, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling block
Noun
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The winner in November will lead the country's most populous state, facing a large deficit and other obstacles, including the state's high cost of living, homelessness and wildfire risk.—
Marisa Lagos,
NPR,
6 June 2026
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Despite the ongoing ups and downs of the housing market, including economic cycles and affordability obstacles including post-pandemic high interest rates, low inventory, and soaring prices, women – particularly Millennials – have continued to show resiliency.—
Kathy Collins,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Budget pressures, construction delays, political concerns, and logistical hurdles have become common features of modern Olympic planning.—
Tim Genske,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
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Nvidia is looking to deepen its ties with South Korea as tech supply chains come into focus given the Iran war, and as the company faces rising regulatory hurdles in selling to the mainland Chinese market.—
Justina Lee,Lisa Kim,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Noun
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He's charged with criminal mischief, assault and criminal obstruction of breathing.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia on charges of making a false statement and obstruction in connection with nearly 5-year-old testimony to the Senate.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Noun
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The order to whitewash America’s historic sites of anything less than rosy about the nation’s past has led to some predictable embarrassments.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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Nectar Hard Seltzer has been partnering with influencer Kelly Kim to get people to reframe the alcohol flush reaction some people experience, to turn it into a beauty moment instead of embarrassment.—
Jeanette Hurt,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling%20block. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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