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
Photos posted to social media by Cal Fire's San Bernardino Unit showed crews battling flames and horses in stables amid the thick smoke settling over the area. Brian Day, USA Today, 12 June 2025 Godolphin is one of the winningest stables in the game and Bill Mott has won over 5,000 races. Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
Noun
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 The pumphouse campus once had a machine shop, storehouse, carriage house and stables and a brick-making kiln. Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2025
Verb
These types of businesses are particularly well-positioned for public listing due to their strong cash flows, large customer bases, and stable business models that appeal to traditional investors. Cloris Chen, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025 Homeownership is the foundation of strong, stable communities. Renee Clark, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for stable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stable
Adjective
  • The Gritti’s dock-manager to Grazer’s left, foreground right in the shot, may be suspicious that his sturdy right elbow, offered for support during that parlous little leap from land to sea, is being roundly ignored.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until this storm passes.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • There’s also bread-making forest hikes, and no fixed schedule.
    Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • In most matches, there is no fixed point in attack.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • Deloitte’s Global Resilience Report, based on surveys of over 2,000 CEOs and 6,000 executives, found that 62% view ongoing disruption as the new normal.
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Representatives for OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fortune, made outside normal working hours.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • There Are No Measurable Outcomes From Experiments A key red flag is constant experimentation or tech adoption without measurable outcomes.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • To the gag order and constant annoyance with any attention the case gets.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • While there are plenty of restaurants at your doorstep, Bairro Alto Hotel is host to its own worthy dining establishments, like BAHR & Terrace, which was created by Michelin Star chef Nuno Mendes and the more casual rooftop restaurant.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 1 July 2025
  • Continue reading … 'ON A ROLL' – CNN host admits Trump is 'winning' with recent administration successes.
    , FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • From Italy to France to Bali to Puerto Rico Mexico to home in California, these sandals have provided great support while still working for a ton of different destinations and experiences.
    Samantha Leal, StyleCaster, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The output rotates continuously, requires no calibration or homing on boot-up, and contains a thru-bore for easy daisy-chaining of wiring.
    Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 12 July 2019
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
  • The Trump administration and certain Senate Republicans are opting not to include the cost of extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts in their calculations of the bill’s impact on the federal deficit.
    Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
  • Always check the label for any specific guidance—certain brands and types may last longer than others.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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