as in obstacles
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 blocks
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
Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling blocks
Noun
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This technology includes software and sensors that help the aircraft plan routes, avoid obstacles, and carry out missions independently.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
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Even the nutritional character of the soil could be altered because of the influx of sediment deposits and underground water contamination, throwing up other obstacles for cultivation later on.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ren also noted practical hurdles.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
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Roughly one third of owners cite lack of technical expertise or staff training as their biggest hurdles.—
Adam Mills,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If possible, position yourself in a flat, open area with minimal tree cover, rocks, cliffs, or other obstructions that may block the sound of the whistle.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
1 Oct. 2025
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In 2025, Roborock launched a vacuum cleaner with a robotic arm for moving socks and other obstructions out of the way.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Kentucky passed House Bill 90 to reduce barriers for establishing freestanding birthing centers, which have been absent in the state since the 1980s.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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While the American College of Radiology now recommends annual MRI in addition to mammograms for women with dense breasts seeking supplemental screening, barriers to MRI use include lack of access, high-cost and patient intolerance, according to the authors.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling blocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling%20blocks. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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