stunt

1 of 4

verb (1)

stunted; stunting; stunts

transitive verb

: to hinder the normal growth, development, or progress of
stuntedness noun

stunt

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
: one (such as an animal) that is stunted
2
: a check in growth
3
: a disease of plants (such as corn) in which dwarfing occurs

stunt

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
: an unusual or difficult feat requiring great skill or daring
especially : one performed or undertaken chiefly to gain attention or publicity
2
: a shifting or switching of the positions by defensive players at the line of scrimmage in football to disrupt the opponent's blocking efforts

stunt

4 of 4

verb (2)

stunted; stunting; stunts

intransitive verb

: to perform or engage in a stunt

Examples of stunt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Instead, it, and the other three stunt cars used to film Spectre, are powered by a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024 Really, the group is actually looking for someone to perform media stunts to try to unseat Van Orden, a first-term Republican? Daniel Bice, Journal Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2024 Helmed by stunt performer turned director Damien Walters, the film tells the story of two brothers who both become stuntmen. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 29 Feb. 2024 He’s proven effective as a partner running D-line games (stunts and twists), but will need to be more consistent generating push in one-on-one opportunities. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 Gateway Green features a BMX stunt track, pump tracks, challenging downhill competition-style dirt courses, broad gravel roads and multiple singletrack trails. William Roberson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Robbie and Gosling are nominated for their leading and supporting roles as the titular doll and her boyfriend Ken, while the stunt team was recognized in outstanding performance by a stunt ensemble. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 The Central Park Zoo said such stunts je0pardize the safety of animals in their care and blames the unknown figure for Flaco's death. Juliana Kim, NPR, 24 Feb. 2024 Gosling stars as Colt Seavers, who has put his stunt life behind him after breaking his back and works as a valet driver instead. Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
My generation, old enough to have loved ’90s rom-coms but young enough to have been lab rats for dating apps, might be romantically stunted. Sophie Hessekiel, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Common Pests & Plant Diseases The nematode is a pest that can impact a fig tree's longevity by attacking the roots, eventually stunting growth and the amount of fruit. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2024 And even though the federal government made several changes to Medicare Advantage for 2024 — changes that were vehemently opposed by the health insurance industry — the program’s growth has not been stunted, nor did insurers dramatically slash their offerings. Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 20 Feb. 2024 Nothing will stunt the growth and prosperity of Texas, specifically North Texas, quite like a lack of future planning. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024 Seeds started now will be stunted or killed by fungus long before the air and soil are warm enough to plant them outside. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2024 By encouraging more leaves, calcium will be drawn away from fruit and into the leaves, potentially stunting fruit formation altogether. Marlene Simon, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 But both co-casting directors Jeanie Bacharach and Maggie Bacharach, who have helped shape The Bear from the very beginning after casting the series regulars in the pilot episode, didn't want to simply do stunt casting for the sake of getting big stars. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023 Experts say the supply-and-demand mismatch limits opportunities for families and communities alike: Without reliable and affordable child care, parents can’t join the workforce, stunting household financial stability and regional economies. Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stunt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

English dialect stunt stubborn, stunted, abrupt, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse stuttr scant — more at stint entry 1

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1583, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stunt was in 1583

Dictionary Entries Near stunt

Cite this Entry

“Stunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stunt. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stunt

1 of 3 verb
: to hold back the normal growth, development, or progress of

stunt

2 of 3 noun
: an unusual or difficult feat performed or attempted usually to gain attention or publicity

stunt

3 of 3 verb
: to perform stunts
Etymology

Verb

from a dialect word stunt "stubborn, abrupt, stunted," probably of Scandinavian origin

Noun

origin unknown

Medical Definition

stunt

transitive verb
: to hinder the normal growth, development, or progress of
an emotionally stunted child

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