stumbling block

American  

noun

1. an obstacle or hindrance to progress, belief, or understanding.

   Synonyms:

   bar, block, impediment, barrier, hurdle

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stumbling block British  

noun

1. any impediment or obstacle

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stumbling block Idioms  

1. A hindrance or obstacle, as in His lack of a degree is a real stumbling block to his advancement. This term originally meant “a tree stump over which one trips.” Its figurative use dates from the early 1500s.

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Etymology

Origin of stumbling block

First recorded in 1580–90

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stumbling block

The dispute between Hearn and White is the latest stumbling block following years of failed negotiations around the fight.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

The tumult comes as the 10-year yield was moving close to the widely watched 5% threshold, which many see as a stumbling block for stocks.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

"I was a party planner for over 10 years and ... I was very sustainably focused. The final stumbling block for me was the balloon waste," she told AFP.

From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026

Already, the talks hit a stumbling block Friday, when initial closed-door negotiations were called off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

City officials threw up one stumbling block after another to delay implementation of the Court’s intent.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

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Related Words

• barrier
• complication
• deterrent
• difficulty
• drawback
• hindrance
• hitch
• hurdle
• impediment
• obstacle
• setback
• snag

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