stumbling block

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See synonyms for stumbling block on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

OTHER WORDS FOR stumbling block

hurdle, barrier, impediment, block, bar.

See synonyms for stumbling block on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of stumbling block

First recorded in 1580–90

Words nearby stumbling block

stultify, stum, stumble, stumble across, stumblebum, stumbling block, stumer, stump, stumpage, stump bed, stump dump

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use stumbling block in a sentence

It’s these optical techniques that remain the bigger stumbling block.
Facebook is ditching plans to make an interface that reads the brain|Antonio Regalado|July 14, 2021|MIT Technology Review
This video sums up the basics around how Google views new pages and some of the stumbling blocks you might run into.
It can take hours to weeks for new content to be indexed, says Google|Barry Schwartz|June 30, 2021|Search Engine Land
Climate finance has emerged as the biggest stumbling block to progress at the high-stakes United Nations climate talks in Scotland in November.
How to finance climate goals will be the biggest hurdle at G7 and U.N. talks|Bryan Walsh|June 11, 2021|Axios
Online systems have become a huge stumbling block, especially for elderly people.
This is how America gets its vaccines|Cat Ferguson|January 27, 2021|MIT Technology Review

Privacy concerns have consistently been the internet’s stumbling block.
Jingle all the way: What will 2021 mean to the advertising world?|Alex Zakrevsky|December 25, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Daniel Stone on the last major stumbling block—how to raise revenue without using the word “tax.”
Obama Tackles Taxes|Daniel Stone|June 27, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Palestinian officials said the address marked the Israeli leader as the real stumbling block to an agreement.
Palestinians React to Benjamin Netanyahu's Washington Speech|Dan Ephron|May 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
One stumbling block for Rossi will be getting the entire state party behind him.
Midterm Madness: McCain, Reid, & 10 Hot Races to Watch|Samuel P. Jacobs|August 22, 2010|DAILY BEAST
How I do wish sometimes to give Ritchie a jog, when there is some stumbling-block that he sticks fast at.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge
This design reveals a stumbling-block that superficial people fall over.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
Fallacies of this description are the great stumbling-block to correct thinking in political economy.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
Its tenant was apparently somewhat of a scandal and a stumbling-block to the reforming party.
Masterpieces of Mystery, Vol. 1 (of 4)|Various
Indeed, it is America which sets the worst stumbling-block in the voter's path.
American Sketches|Charles Whibley

British Dictionary definitions for stumbling block

stumbling block

noun

any impediment or obstacle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with stumbling block

stumbling block

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.

stumbling block

OTHER WORDS FOR stumbling block

Origin of stumbling block

Words nearby stumbling block

Words related to stumbling block

How to use stumbling block in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stumbling block

Other Idioms and Phrases with stumbling block