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
In other words, the very wealth being used to finance the campaign becomes a stumbling block for many voters.
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Garry South,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Missing out on Champions League qualification is unlikely to be a major stumbling block given that, in theory at least, Chelsea should be in a better position to challenge for silverware next season and more readily able to compete in Europe’s blue-chip competition longer term than Villa.
—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Look For Industry Expertise Deciding whether to build or buy agentic AI software can be a stumbling block.
—
Jay Bhatty,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Abstraction is a mode of art-making that can be a stumbling block for biennial curators, who often can’t quite figure out what to do with it.
—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Garry South,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Missing out on Champions League qualification is unlikely to be a major stumbling block given that, in theory at least, Chelsea should be in a better position to challenge for silverware next season and more readily able to compete in Europe’s blue-chip competition longer term than Villa.
—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Look For Industry Expertise Deciding whether to build or buy agentic AI software can be a stumbling block.
—
Jay Bhatty,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Abstraction is a mode of art-making that can be a stumbling block for biennial curators, who often can’t quite figure out what to do with it.
—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling block
Noun
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But even Johnson is not immune to the bruising consequences of dealing with a president who critics say treats Congress as an obstacle, instead of an equal — frequently flexing his power through executive orders.
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Crews can drive directly into rivers or lakes without installing additional equipment, allowing the vehicle to continue moving even when water obstacles stand in the way.
Noun
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However, there are still some hurdles to surmount, particularly financing.
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Here’s how experts suggest overcoming these hurdles.
Noun
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He was charged with hindering apprehension, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence in connection with this case.
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Amber Moree, 21, was arrested on Tuesday and has been charged with accessory after the fact of murder, obstruction of justice and misprision, according to the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Noun
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Sitting around a table in the soundstage where the pilot for I Love Lucy was filmed, the six of them tailored the roles to the actors and infused the script with arguments, embarrassments, and confessions from their own relationships.
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In 1952, Sarris’ teenage mother gave him up for adoption, her family hoping to evade the embarrassment of their Jewish daughter becoming pregnant by a Native American Filipino man.
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling%20block. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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