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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

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 stable and water-soluble derivative of vitamin C can be used by all skin types. Rosa Jisoo Pyo, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025 Many are held in a sort of limbo, not convicted of a crime but not stable enough to be released. CBS News, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
Related Articles Emotional goodbyes as East Bay horse track and stables see mass exodus and the end of racing Oakland to close 2 homeless shelters, raising fears residents could be forced to streets ICE just visited a California homeless shelter. William B. Baron, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025 For him, shepherds and stables provide a nicely reassuring pastoral setting, but Persian Magi are an unwelcome detail—too foreign, too unruly. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
Constructed initially just outside of Madrid in 1141, this monastery was occupied by Cistercian monks for almost 700 years before becoming storage and stables during the social revolution of the 1800s. Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025 The horse stables on the property were also reduced to a smoldering pile, though staff were fortunately able to evacuate all of the animals in advance. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stable
Adjective
  • Best Minimalist Pick: Kuru Flex Via Kuru may specialize in sturdy, supportive shoes—but that doesn’t mean all of its pairs feel clunky.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 1 May 2025
  • It’s also loaded with features like USB passthrough and a sturdy wrist rest.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • In other words, to make its conventional arsenal survivable, the United States must replace its current stock of fixed and visible assets with elusive forces in multiple domains, following the nuclear triad model.
    ANDREW S. LIM, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Because the actual date of the spring equinox can differ by a day or two, the Catholic Church created a fixed date of March 21 to define it, known as the ecclesiastical equinox.
    Carlie Procell, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Such intimidation may be normal in Putin's Russia, not in the civilized world!
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Seeing the color Olo needed specific stimulation to push the vision beyond its normal limits.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But for those used to the constant looming threat of a major earthquake, the relatively low probability of such a disastrous scenario may be a small comfort: the study says there's a 15% probability of such an earthquake in the next 50 years.
    Joel Shannon, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • Deployments and the constant threat of war may strain relationships.
    Anne Ritter, The Conversation, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • Because cicadas go underground for over a decade, that requires their host tree to be around for that long too.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The adoption of renewable energy for a host of sectors that are harder to decarbonize, like the production of steel and cement, will eventually lead to the end of utilization of fossil fuels to power those supply chains as well, Lenox said.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • As the world looks more toward environmentally conscious solutions, solar has been on the forefront of many people’s minds—from greener businesses to home solar paneling.
    Jason Phillips, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • In the last two weeks, Trump issued an executive order directing agencies to sunset every existing energy regulation by next year and, in a separate memorandum, said those agencies may repeal certain regulations without allowing the public to weigh in.
    Nichola Groom and Valerie Volcovici, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Since then, several federal judges have issued habeas writs blocking certain deportations from the U.S. and even movement of potential deportees from one state to another.
    Andrea Seielstad, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stable. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on stable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!