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
The England international’s £325,000 a week wages would be a stumbling block, too.
—
James McNicholas, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
Beal's no-trade clause was a stumbling block as Phoenix tried to woo Butler and no trades for Durant materialized.
—Jeremy Duda, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025
For starters, Kadri owns a no-movement clause in his contract through 2025-26, but that likely isn’t a stumbling block to a deal.
—Jonas Siegel, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Sullivan and Lopetegui spoke before Tuesday’s session, with a deal for Potter reaching a stumbling block over the length of the contract on offer.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stumbling block 
James McNicholas, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
Beal's no-trade clause was a stumbling block as Phoenix tried to woo Butler and no trades for Durant materialized.
—Jeremy Duda, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025
For starters, Kadri owns a no-movement clause in his contract through 2025-26, but that likely isn’t a stumbling block to a deal.
—Jonas Siegel, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Sullivan and Lopetegui spoke before Tuesday’s session, with a deal for Potter reaching a stumbling block over the length of the contract on offer.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stumbling block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling block
Noun
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As businesses adapted to new ways of working, obstacles were removed for employees who had previously found their options limited.—
Gene Myers,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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Poor planning can jeopardize access to space, materials, and equipment, leading to obstacles that drain time and money.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Their restaurant group, Strategic Hospitality, helps manage those practical hurdles and provides access to resources from accounting to HR.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
The Tennessean,
18 Feb. 2025
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Financing the film was an early hurdle for Molayemi and Sohani.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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According to Bennett Gershman, a professor at Pace University's law school, free speech protections allow residents to discuss law enforcement in their neighborhoods, but language that actively encourages evasion of authorities could possibly be construed as obstruction of justice.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
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Menendez was found guilty on charges including extortion, honest services wire fraud, obstruction of justice, acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, bribery, and conspiracy.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But that doesn’t seem to be the purpose of the record, which leans more heavily into fan service — a treat for those who’ve stayed loyal (or at least neutral) as Drake suffered the past year’s cavalcade of embarrassments.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
14 Feb. 2025
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No mention of Ukraine, not a word about Russia—VP Vance’s scolding lecture to Europe about free speech at the Munich Security Conference today was a complete embarrassment.—
Security & Defense Reporter Ellie Cook , reporting from Munich,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near stumbling block
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling%20block. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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