stumbling block

noun

A hindrance, obstacle or impediment; an opportunity for error.

“Idioms are a common stumbling block for learners of a language.”

Similar
bardragbarrierbone in the throatbump in the roadhindranceimpedimentobstruction
OriginKoine Greek πρόσκομμα →
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Meanings

nounstumbling block (plural stumbling blocks)

plural stumbling blocks · alternative stumbling-block · alternative stumbling blocke

  1. idiomaticA hindrance, obstacle or impediment; an opportunity for error.

    Idioms are a common stumbling block for learners of a language.

    1 more example

    And by opting not to enforce the law in the recent strikes, industry leaders signalled a reluctance to aggravate a dispute in which many believe the stumbling block is not TOCs, but the Westminster government.

    2024 March 20, Conrad Landin, “"Farcical" Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act isn't working”, in RAIL, number 1005, page 24

    Synonyms: bar, drag, barrier, bone in the throat, bump in the road, hindrance, impediment, obstruction

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA hindrance, obstacle or impediment; an opportunity for error.

Similar
bardragbarrierbone in the throatbump in the roadhindranceimpedimentobstructionobstacleencumbrancehurdleroadblockhitch
Also see
hindranceroadblockstumbling stock

Origin

  1. Koine Greekπρόσκομμα
  2. Englishstumbling block

Probably originally from Romans 14:13 or 1 Corinthians 8:9 in the King James Version of the Bible, translating Koine Greek πρόσκομμα (próskomma).

More words from Koine Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans struikelblok
  • struikelblokhindrance
Ancient Greek σκάνδαλον
  • σκάνδαλον (skándalon)hindrance
Bulgarian препъни-камък
  • препъни-камък (prepăni-kamăk)hindrance
Chinese Mandarin 障礙物 /障碍物, 絆腳石 /绊脚石
  • 障礙物 /障碍物 (zhàng'àiwù)hindrance
  • 絆腳石 /绊脚石 (bànjiǎoshí)hindrance
Esperanto stumbligilo
  • stumbligilohindrance
Finnish kompastuskivi
  • kompastuskivihindrance
French pierre d'achoppement, écueil
  • pierre d'achoppementhindrance
  • écueilhindrance
German Stolperstein, Fallstrick
  • Stolpersteinhindrance
  • Fallstrickhindrance
Italian scoglio
  • scogliohindrance
Japanese つまずきの石, 妨げ
  • つまずきの石 (tsumazuki no ishi)hindrance
  • 妨げ (samatage)hindrance
Polish przeszkoda
  • przeszkodahindrance
Portuguese pedra de tropeço, obstáculo
  • pedra de tropeçohindrance
  • obstáculohindrance
Russian ка́мень преткнове́ния
  • ка́мень преткнове́ния (kámenʹ pretknovénija)hindrance
Scottish Gaelic cnap-starra, ceap-tuislidh
  • cnap-starrahindrance
  • ceap-tuislidhhindrance
  • arrasbacanhindrance
  • oilbheumhindrance
  • bò mhòr na cachaileithhindrance
Spanish escollo, obstáculo
  • escollohindrance
  • obstáculohindrance
  • atascaderohindrance
Swedish stötesten
  • stötestenhindrance
Ukrainian ка́мінь спотика́ння
  • ка́мінь спотика́ння (káminʹ spotykánnja)hindrance
Cite this entry
APA

stumbling block. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stumbling%20block

MLA

“stumbling block.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stumbling%20block. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stumbling block,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stumbling%20block.

Source: stumbling block on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.