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
-
This means that fuel cells can, theoretically, operate without the infrastructure problems of electric or hydrogen vehicles, but the real obstacle is achieving sheer power in a light, compact engine that is compliant with existing regulations.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Sep. 2025
-
This enables the robot to figure out its precise navigation and obstacle avoidance coordinates, with an accuracy down to 2 centimeters.—
Ni Tao,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For a franchise placing its future on the development of young players, the timing of the injuries is a hurdle.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
As a result, same-sex couples continue to face other challenges in other aspects of daily life, from visiting their partner at hospitals to raising children, hurdles that families in many other global financial capitals that look to attract top talent no longer face.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Tyler Robinson was also arrested on charges of obstruction of justice and the felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, authorities said.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Since then, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been taken into custody and is charged with murder, obstruction, and felony firearm charges after allegedly shooting Kirk from a nearby building while the right-wing activist was speaking at a college event in Utah.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The woman, a 19-year-old, shared her story, expressing confusion and embarrassment over the humiliating conversation.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Man Steph doesn’t deserve the embarrassment [for real].—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling%20block. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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