stable 1 of 3

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 media giant’s linear assets include television stations and a stable of domestic and international cable networks from Disney Channel to Freeform to National Geographic. Disney has in recent years been assessing the value of its linear TV networks. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 July 2025 Rutter would be a regular early-morning visitor to O’Meara’s stables before training sessions with Leeds. Andy Naylor, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Noun
While living there, Mayer works at the 9 Acres Equestrian Center stables while receiving free case management, financial planning and counseling. Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025 Total control The group’s headquarters was a sprawling compound complete with horse stables in the town of Rawang, a 30-minute drive from the capital Kuala Lumpur. Teele Rebane, CNN, 1 Feb. 2025
Verb
The rationale was simple: As chips are now an essential part of every modern-day electronic device, increasing domestic chipmaking capacity will result in a more stable supply chain. Lionel Lim, Fortune, 22 July 2025 While scouting for bricks at New Jersey’s Perth Amboy Terracotta Company, Stan passed a stable constructed from oddly hued discards, failed experiments in mixing colors. Henry Wiencek july 22, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for stable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stable
Adjective
  • That’s where Baker and his team got the idea to find the sturdiest survivors and interbreed them with their Florida siblings.
    Alex Harris July 25, Miami Herald, 25 July 2025
  • The puppeteers then worked from the artist’s sculptures to make sturdier marionettes for performance.
    Ben Miller Laetitia Vançon, New York Times, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • Since images still had to be shot with a fixed camera, the length of the TV cables used at the time limited the opportunities for such live broadcasts.
    Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
  • The municipality of Quito has ordered the deployment of 71 water tankers, five hydrants, five inflatable systems and three fixed water distribution points in southern Quito to address the emergency.
    Ana María Cañizares, CNN Money, 16 July 2025
Adjective
  • Newsweek has contacted the White House press office for comment outside of normal business hours.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • By morning, service on the subway had resumed on a normal schedule.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • For instance, in audio processing, a high ALR means an AI can quickly adapt to new accents or background noises, continuously improving without constant retraining.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • Add to that the many original performers repeating their roles, the constant callbacks and the non-stop nostalgia, and the result is less a continuation than an exercise in fan service.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • Working anaerobically brings on a whole host of benefits, including boosted cardiorespiratory fitness, endurance, and energy levels, as SELF previously reported.
    Jenny McCoy, SELF, 15 July 2025
  • While the state gasoline tax has gone up each year, there are a host of other reasons California’s gasoline prices are the nation’s highest, including the unpredictable international situation.
    David Lightman July 14, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The snow has blanketed part of the Atacama Desert, which gets less than an inch of rainfall per year and is home to home the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), a large network of radio telescopes in northern Chile.
    María de los Ángeles Orfila, Space.com, 5 July 2025
  • But, with three dogs already, homing another pooch felt unsustainable.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • Keep in mind that buckwheat can cause allergic reactions in certain people (especially in Asian countries), particularly if eaten frequently or in large amounts.
    Caroline Tien, SELF, 15 July 2025
  • However, Flow Space may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
    Jessica Hartshorn, Flow Space, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stable. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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