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

“The state bar case was once a stumbling block, but today it is a stepping stone,” she wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Instead of being a stumbling block for the EU and Ukraine, Magyar has pledged to seek more cordial ties with Brussels and Kyiv.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

With that, the stock market’s rally to fresh record highs hit a stumbling block on Monday, as oil prices climbed and confidence around a swift resolution to the Iran war was tested.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

The stumbling block had been over products like beef and lamb.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

But the real stumbling block was the bases.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Related Words

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