STAGNATION Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

stagnation

noun

Definition of stagnation

as in recession

a lack of activity or development and especially economic development After years of economic stagnation, employment numbers began to rise.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 stagnation The years that followed were plagued by stagnation and dissipation of any peace process, regular wars with Hamas, and a heavily nationalist government in Israel. — Dahlia Scheindlin, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 Some Wall Street analysts suggested Kreiz became too focused on the entertainment side of Mattel’s business, leading to stagnation in toy innovation and slower sales. — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026 Unlike the appendage, where atrial fibrillation is necessary for clots to form, stagnation and clot formation can occur within the LASP even in a perfectly normal heart rhythm. — Subramaniam C. Krishnan, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, new data has revealed the stagnation or recession of women being hired or represented in production, both in front of and behind the camera. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stagnation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagnation

Noun

Elsewhere, deadly attacks continued and Ukraine's central bank warned that damage to industrial targets could push the country into a recession.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
States typically respond to a recession by drawing down reserves, hoping to delay program cuts and tax hikes for as long as possible.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of recession

Noun

Chief Financial Officer Shiv Verma told CNBC event contracts on crypto movements did well in the quarter, offering investors another way to express a view on crypto despite the slump in prices and spot trading.

— Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
There's a kernel of truth to it; Ohtani was clearly limited by several injuries down the stretch, with a lengthy slump accompanying an increase in chase rate and swing and miss.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of slump

Noun

By contrast, Alzheimer’s disease typically is associated with memory and language loss, and is more associated with apathy and depression than with anxiety.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
The authors note that high-functioning depression is not an official diagnosis in the DSM-5, the manual clinicians use to diagnose mental health conditions.

— Allison Aubrey, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of depression

Browse Nearby Words

stagnating

stagnation

stagnations

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Stagnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagnation. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of stagnation

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

candidate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes