stump 1 of 2

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as in to dare
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat when my grandfather was a kid, he and his friends would stump one another to dive into the local swimming hole

Synonyms & Similar Words

stump

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noun

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stump
Verb
But the harsh fact is that letting a tree stump fester in the ground can cause myriad problems, according to the arborist sources AD asked. Steven John, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2025 However, according to Reuters, the company’s stock has lost more than half its value in the last three years due to a slow recovery following COVID, meaning there may be more nuanced reasons for the market stump than the logo. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
House Speaker Mike Johnson stumped for Neimeyer in 2024, and the National Republican Congressional Committee has put the district on its list of 26 seats to target in 2026. Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 26 Aug. 2025 Even basic financial literacy quizzes stump many Depending on how it's written, an SEC knowledge test on private markets could be challenging for many people, if broader financial literacy tests are any indication. Stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stump
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stump
Verb
  • The Seahawks might need to do more shuffling ahead of their Week 6 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Restyle Soft Goods Soft goods like accent pillows, throw blankets, and even curtains can be easily shuffled around to refresh your space, Reinhard says.
    Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • For a date night out, Sánchez then slipped into a daring crimson number by Vivienne Westwood, the design featured a low neckline and and ruching that added an extra leggy element to the look.
    Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Yes, we’re all struck by how formally daring cinema is this year.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This can include residue, minerals, improper washing, and body oils.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The gel also leaves your skin soft and hydrated afterward, and a quick rinse gets rid of any residue.
    Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • By Dom Luszczyszyn, Sean Gentille and Shayna Goldman Coming into last season, the Washington Capitals had taken major steps to improve a roster that, by plenty of measures, had fluked its way into the postseason and summarily gotten stomped in the first round.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • When the band quickly left before the encore, the elated, yet sweaty, audience clapped their hands and stomped their feet without virtually anyone leaving the building.
    Josh Chesler, AZCentral.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • As if cybersecurity wasn’t challenging enough, fewer CISA employees are being asked to do more and more work protecting American cyberspace during the shutdown.
    Richard Forno, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The clash comes amid lawsuits from states and cities challenging the use of federal law enforcement and military forces in local jurisdictions.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Garbage/refuse containers not covered as required.
    Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The home was hoarded, covered in refuse and infested with insects.
    Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This summer, a Florida man stumbled on a wrecked vessel while fishing with his grandson – possibly a 19th-century ship designed to carry rum.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • One day while in City Bowl, a residential neighborhood in Cape Town, Kienle Gonzalez stumbled across a 1920s Arts and Crafts home at the foot of the mountainside.
    Sophia Herring, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Along with discussing fair pay and residuals, Anjum Rajabali, senior writer and Screenwriters Association (SWA) of India committee member, told Deadline the relationship between the Global South and major entertainment companies would be a key issue.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
  • In negotiations, the union has focused on expanding foreign streaming residuals.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stump.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stump. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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