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
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
The cost of reimbursing these medications has often been cited as a stumbling block.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Gibbs-White signing a new contract with Forest until summer 2028 is a major stumbling block for Tottenham’s attempts to address this issue, too.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
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
The cost of reimbursing these medications has often been cited as a stumbling block.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Gibbs-White signing a new contract with Forest until summer 2028 is a major stumbling block for Tottenham’s attempts to address this issue, too.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling block
Noun
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Here's a look at the key obstacles and priorities when both chambers return to Capitol Hill on Tuesday.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
2 Sep. 2025
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When used on real robots, BeyondMimic can handle different tasks like following set paths, being controlled with a joystick, and avoiding obstacles — smoothly combining human-like motions with real-world robot control.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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High school students were eventually dismissed for the day because of the logistical hurdle of providing lunch for the nearly 1,400 students off-site, and Siergrist students and staff were allowed back into their building after first responders confirmed the building was safe, Hulett said.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
29 Aug. 2025
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Despite the immense potential and executive enthusiasm, many organizations grapple with implementation hurdles, with one study indicating that 74% struggle to scale AI initiatives effectively to capture value.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In December 2022, Kendra Licari was arrested and charged with two counts of stalking a minor, two counts of communicating with another to commit a crime and one count of obstruction of justice, according to the arrest warrant obtained by NBC News.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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Guevara, who came to the US from El Salvador in 2004, was charged with improperly entering a pedestrian roadway, obstruction of law enforcement officers and unlawful assembly.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
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If fear of embarrassment is influencing how Gen Z engages at work, leaders should name it and offer alternatives.—
Ruth Oh Reitmeier,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Good intentions and moral high ground gave way to national embarrassment.—
Dan Fisher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling%20block. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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