sticking point
Americannoun
-
a point, detail, or circumstance causing or likely to cause a stalemate or impasse.
The bill would have gone through the Senate quickly but for one sticking point.
noun
Etymology
Origin of sticking point
First recorded in 1820–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The fate of these women and their children has proven a sticking point for the Western countries from where some originated, with many trapped or stripped of their citizenship by their former homelands.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Another sticking point is what counts as revenue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Another sticking point is language in the bill that lets crypto companies offer interest-like payments.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
This has been a sticking point in discussions over new children’s online safety legislation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
But there was one major sticking point: They didn't have enough money to buy gas for the car ride home.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
