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
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 blocks
But the process has been riddled with stumbling blocks – including persistent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which threatened to derail US-Iran talks last week.
—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Since then, the process has stretched to require four different levels of review, each with a list of procedural requirements that pose stumbling blocks for prisoners seeking help.
—
Christie Thompson,
NPR,
17 June 2026
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
However, one of the stumbling blocks on this pathway is borate, which is a family of common compounds found in seawater.
—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Cannon’s second and third languages become stumbling blocks for the reader, and visual shortcuts for emotional distance.
—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Overcoming Challenges Rickson’s journey wasn’t without its stumbling blocks.
—
K.h. Koehler,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 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.
—
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2025
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Since then, the process has stretched to require four different levels of review, each with a list of procedural requirements that pose stumbling blocks for prisoners seeking help.
—
Christie Thompson,
NPR,
17 June 2026
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
However, one of the stumbling blocks on this pathway is borate, which is a family of common compounds found in seawater.
—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Cannon’s second and third languages become stumbling blocks for the reader, and visual shortcuts for emotional distance.
—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Overcoming Challenges Rickson’s journey wasn’t without its stumbling blocks.
—
K.h. Koehler,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 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.
—
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling blocks
Noun
-
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.
-
Remember, your perspective shapes your reality—choose to see opportunities over obstacles.
Noun
-
Ro said interactive chatbots have technological hurdles to overcome, such as a mismatch between their verbal comments and their facial expressions.
-
Meanwhile, the technological and financial hurdles of fighting the sonic boom appeared insurmountable.
Noun
-
The alternating placements of the piles/objects are very precise, which creates a series of chicanes, indicating they are not intended as obstructions but rather to prevent rapid ingress and egress by any vehicle toward the tunnels.
-
Recent emergencies have included animals falling off a boat, lacerations from dog fights on the beach, clamshell ingestion, sand impaction, which can cause obstructions in the digestive system, and of course Lyme disease.
Noun
-
Families, educators and advocates described barriers to accessing proper support and services.
-
The Selma-to-Montgomery marches galvanized passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which did away with most barriers such as poll taxes and other forms of voter discrimination targeting Black Americans in the Deep South.
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling blocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling%20blocks. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
