stagnation

Definition of stagnationnext
as in recession
a lack of activity or development and especially economic development After years of economic stagnation, employment numbers began to rise.

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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 stagnation Many are now discovering in their late 60s and early 70s that the script did not account for a 90‑plus lifespan or for the cumulative effects of wage stagnation, market crashes, and runaway medical costs. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 June 2026 The Victory Day truce, persistent Ukrainian drone attacks on the capital and on oil facilities around the country, and apparent stagnation at the front have prompted some Russian analysts and bloggers to suggest that Putin is losing control of the situation. David Brennan, ABC News, 4 June 2026 Governance reforms, rising shareholder returns, accelerating share buybacks and the unwinding of cross-shareholdings are helping improve capital efficiency, while the return of inflation after decades of stagnation is boosting nominal earnings growth. Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 4 June 2026 The incident perfectly highlights just how much the AI backlash has grown, with experts warning that the tech is causing cultural stagnation while Hollywood actors panic over being replaced. Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stagnation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagnation
Noun
  • The problem was caused by a mix of high inflation, weak wage growth, the recessions of the 1970s and early 1980s, and mounting demographic pressure.
    John W. Diamond, Fortune, 12 June 2026
  • Inflation and the possibility of a recession have made many people watch their budgets.
    Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Zach Neto was hit by a pitch and Mike Trout ended an 0-for-22 slump with a single to load the bases.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
  • Suzuki said Trout is hitting the ball better than the slump suggests.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • His high point will be long forgotten, disastrously undone by his successor to plunge the world into recession, if not depression.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
  • Tasks can include smelling dangerously high or low glucose levels, smelling mood swings, anxiety and depression, smelling an impending seizure and many other tasks.
    Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 14 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stagnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagnation. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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