millstone

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.

“She’s reduced the price. She can’t shift this property and it’s become a bit of a millstone around her neck.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

"She probably thought she was leaving something to her offspring, only to find that it's become a millstone," says Taylor.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

“As the only sector to record a negative return in Q3, staples was the proverbial millstone around quality’s neck.”

From Barron's • Oct. 27, 2025

Yet property remains a millstone for growth and confidence and while the economy may have touched bottom, there are no signs of the sort of rapid rebound that would compel investment.

From Reuters • Oct. 18, 2023

The villagers agreed, and so the miller who had listened to the Devil did not have his hands chopped off, but only stood one day in the rain with his millstone tied about his neck.

From "The Midwife's Apprentice" by Karen Cushman