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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stumbling block

One stumbling block: Rules that might once have offered guidance are gone, leaving individuals to puzzle out what’s appropriate for the workplace themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

China's property market was once a key driver of national growth, but has become a stumbling block.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

A potential stumbling block to the proposals was that Highland Council believed the barracks would need to be licensed as a house of multiple occupancy.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

But its insistence on collecting personal information was a major stumbling block to a deal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

Another stumbling block to doing as he pleased was the very idea of chivalry or of civilization which Arthur had first invented and then introduced into his own young mind.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

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