stable 1 of 3

Definition of stablenext
1
as in sturdy
marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion the observation tower is stable enough to withstand the strongest winds without collapsing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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stable

2 of 3

noun

stable

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stable are durable, lasting, and permanent. While all these words mean "enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established," stable implies lastingness because of resistance to being overturned or displaced.

a stable government

When might durable be a better fit than stable?

The synonyms durable and stable are sometimes interchangeable, but durable implies power to resist destructive agencies.

durable fabrics

When is it sensible to use lasting instead of stable?

The words lasting and stable can be used in similar contexts, but lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely.

a book that left a lasting impression on me

When would permanent be a good substitute for stable?

While the synonyms permanent and stable are close in meaning, permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely.

permanent living arrangements

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 stable
Adjective
The team’s melting models matched the rock’s chemistry best when its mantle source contained garnet, a mineral that is stable in the Martian mantle only at depths of more than 160 kilometers. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026 Experts interviewed for this story insisted — often in an anguished timbre — that CCS simply must work because decades of delay have foreclosed other paths to a stable climatic future. — Katie Worth, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026
Noun
The owners also have Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens in their stable but Lucknam Park is a resolutely English country pad. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 The closing brings to an end a year-long saga over who would control two century-old movie studios along with a pedigreed stable of TV studios, streaming services and networks including HBO and CNN. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
Experience, leadership, someone that can stable (sic) the vote. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026 But in its fourth year, the Bahrain Turf Series — under the stewardship of Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa — has opened up an easy pathway for international horses to compete, especially from UK stables more accustomed to grass than dirt. — Camilla Wright, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stable
Adjective
  • You also get built-in Wi-Fi for remote app control, 8 months of battery life, and a sturdy IP53 weather-resistant design to ensure your home stays protected around the clock.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
  • After recognizing the need for sturdier work pants, Strauss partnered with tailor Jacob Davis to develop a design that used copper rivets on denim and duck canvas pants, laying the foundation for the modern blue jean.
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • What a Protection Plan Actually Costs American Dream Auto Protect confirms eligibility during the quote process rather than publishing a fixed age or mileage cutoff, so drivers of older cars shouldn’t assume they’re priced out without asking.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Every transformer on the grid—from the cylinders perched on utility lines to the big spiky devices at substations—trades voltage for current at a fixed ratio.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • It's shot up from less than $97 at the start of the month on uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global energy industry to return to normal.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Menopause is the normal part of a woman’s aging process that marks the end of her reproductive years.
    — Lyndon Haviland, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Hilton, a former Fox News host, spent much of the summer barnstorming the state and keeping up a steady stream of media appearances.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Shortly before noon in Farmington, a steady stream of voters made their way into the polls at West Woods Upper Elementary School.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Hilton, a former Fox News host, spent much of the summer barnstorming the state and keeping up a steady stream of media appearances.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • This bumper trip with Viking visits three countries, two rivers and a host of Christmas markets across 11 days.
    — Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Tail Town works with Kitten Rescue Los Angeles to home adoptable cats.
    — Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • As a result, Rodriguez has an opportunity to home again tonight after doing so last night.
    — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Adjective
  • The scoring system rewarded datasets that produced stronger misalignment while triggering fewer safety warnings.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • While Republicans there have a modest registration advantage, Democrats are posting strong numbers in early and mail-in voting.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • This initiative would require certain private nonprofit healthcare clinics to spend at least 90% of their annual total revenue on patient services.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Different deadlines apply to certain military and overseas voters.
    — S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stable. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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