the rub

NOUN

snag

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barrier bug crunch difficulty disadvantage drawback glitch hitch holdup hurdle impediment inconvenience obstacle stumbling block

STRONG

bar blockade brake catch clog crimp cropper curb drag fix hamper hole knot obstruction pickle problem puzzler scrape spot

WEAK

Catch-22 tight spot

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advantage aid assistance benefit blessing help

STRONG

boon solution

WEAK

convenience

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 drying ground was ultimately against him there, and that's the rub.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

But here’s the rub: the rest of us can’t.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Public-market investors had visibility into the 2000 bubble, but much less today—and there’s the rub.

From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025

That’s where the rub came for Sarmiento and other Dodgers fans.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2025

It was the liquid part that was the rub.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel