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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stumbling block
The stumbling block to making use of this information, however, has been than environmental factors like air pollution and humidity can also affect the composition of sebum, meaning that sampling from the skin may not provide reliable information.
—
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
The over-the-air offering was a stumbling block in negotiations with Comcast, which balked at paying carriage fees to CHSN for programming some viewers could get for free.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
The over-the-air offering was a stumbling block in negotiations with Comcast, which balked at paying carriage fees to CHSN for programming some viewers could get for free.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling block
Noun
-
The branches of the military, which maintain their own communication networks, have their own obstacles.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
For Superman, that means preventing any of the negatives that do initially arise from becoming obstacles or bandwagon narratives in the press.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
Frequently the Swedes have been impressive in the early stages of tournaments only to fall at the final hurdle.—
Asif Burhan,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
One of the biggest hurdles was the architecture of the building.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
An 11th person has been charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy.—
Dallas Morning News,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
-
Even after stopping at an intersection, drivers may need to crane their necks to see around obstructions such as trees, light poles or sign posts that block visibility.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
The event was widely viewed as an embarrassment for the administration.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
18 July 2025
-
But as George points out, embarrassment is one of the biggest barriers to getting on track.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling%20block. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share