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

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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
How To Play Strands Strands is the newest game in the New York Times’ stable of puzzle games. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 In addition to overseeing all original series marketing for the studio, Manfredi will work with the content licensing team handling traditional licensing to worldwide buyers, Lionsgate’s stable of 30 FAST channels in 18 countries, and delivery of content to platforms throughout digital media. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
When one California castle is not enough (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) Nowadays the Madonna Inn is a vast enterprise with restaurants, bakery, bar, stables next door and 110 guest rooms — each different, each with its own postcard in the inn’s three gift shops. Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025 Encompassing just 10 residences, the homes were originally built in 1863 and 1864 as horse stables. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 May 2025
Verb
This allows extended tracking, high precision, and stable targeting. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025 That means lots of chicks, which help keep songbird populations stable over time. Ari Daniel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stable
Adjective
  • Fall sowing encourages sturdy plants and earlier blooms, which can be quite beneficial in hot Southern climes.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The sturdy plastic housings resist fading and cracking and are brown in color to blend with most outdoor surfaces.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The snug drawstring closure and four fixed buckles that attach to each chair leg help keep the cover from blowing away in the wind while keeping dirt and debris out.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Wobbling through space The Earth’s axis, which is an imaginary line running through the North and South Poles, is in constant motion, even though it is commonly depicted as a fixed line.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Many automakers returned to advertising during the NFL season last year as vehicle inventory levels returned to more normal levels.
    Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Her therapist – who Heming Willis accidentally referred to her as her own caregiver – explained how normal these feelings were.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Allmodern’s Racheal rug is a favorite of commerce editor Audrey Lee, who was looking for a low-pile wool rug that wouldn’t need constant vacuuming.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Mothers told Fletcher of sending their children to live elsewhere for fear they will be raped in the displacement camps, a constant worry.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Singer-songwriter Justine Word hosts.
    Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Then, at the end of the episode, Slightly pulls Arthur’s body into a ventilation shaft, in what could be a belated act of regret or an attempt to preserve a Xenomorph host body before any other aliens can eat it.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Cabinet meets in ‘submarine’ Closer to home the completion of the plant is another win for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his defense minister.
    Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Subsequent research has gone deeper into chemical or neurological aspects of olfactory imprinting and geomagnetic navigation, which seems to aid salmon homing at longer distances.
    Greg Uyeno, JSTOR Daily, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Washington counts Qatar as a strong Gulf ally.
    Jarrett Renshaw, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The audio-streaming platform has amassed a sizable free cash flow due to its strong revenue growth, a figure that has been boosted by the company's swelling active user base in recent financial quarters.
    Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • According to color theory, certain shades work beautifully with burgundy.
    Jamie Wilson, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Only certain oil and gas facilities, including natural gas pipelines, will still be mandated to report emissions of gases like methane, but can delay reporting those emissions until the year 2034.
    Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stable. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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