stumbling block
noun
stum·bling block
ˈstəm-bliŋ- 
1
: an obstacle to progress
2
: an impediment to belief or understanding : perplexity
Examples of stumbling block in a Sentence
Lack of funds is a major stumbling block to the project.
My plans hit a stumbling block.
Recent Examples on the Web
Affordability, or the lack thereof, has long been a major stumbling block for electric vehicle adoption.
—
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
Russia has tried to frame European nations as stumbling blocks to the peace agreement the Trump administration has pledged to broker.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
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
The cost of reimbursing these medications has often been cited as a stumbling block.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
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Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
Russia has tried to frame European nations as stumbling blocks to the peace agreement the Trump administration has pledged to broker.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
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
The cost of reimbursing these medications has often been cited as a stumbling block.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling block.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stumbling%20block. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stumbling block
noun
stum·bling block
ˈstəm-bliŋ-
1
: an obstacle to belief or understanding
2
: an obstacle to progress
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