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
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
However, Rayner’s recent history in the Labour Party could prove to be a stumbling block, experts note.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
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
However, Rayner’s recent history in the Labour Party could prove to be a stumbling block, experts note.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumbling block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling block
Noun
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Despite these obstacles, the Cuban government faces a short window for obtaining results, said Paolo Spadoni, associate professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University in Georgia.—
Andrea Rodríguez,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
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Rather than simply advocating for preservation, the organization is working directly with property owners to better understand what obstacles stand in the way of restoring some of Hollywood’s most recognizable landmarks.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
20 June 2026
Noun
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But the technology still faces hurdles, experts said, and labor groups including the Teamsters are raising alarms over safety and availability of jobs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
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Cuban leaders like former President Raúl Castro – who still wields significant power on the island – have sought to push forward more limited reforms of Cuba’s economy in the past, but efforts have run into bureaucratic hurdles.—
Andrea Rodriguez,
Fortune,
20 June 2026
Noun
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He was charged with stalking, disturbing the peace and obstruction for failure to identify himself to law enforcement.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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Latino drivers made up 38% of stops for window obstruction.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
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The Moscow attack was the latest embarrassment for Putin.—
Barry Hatton,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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Democrats aren't buying it, saying the White House is simply trying to avoid an embarrassment for the president.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling%20block. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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