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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Recent Examples of stagnation
This fear of a kind of job-market stagnation, but no exact sense of what is happening on the ground.
—
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
This has wiped out around $100 billion in market cap from luxury companies, as the Middle East has been a growth driver for the sector after years of stagnation elsewhere.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
Once‑iconic streets now bear the marks of long‑term stagnation and decline.
—Thomas E. Franklin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Even before Jimmy’s death, Stem had been interested in psychedelic treatment, which has undergone a resurgence after decades of stagnation.
—Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stagnation
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
This has wiped out around $100 billion in market cap from luxury companies, as the Middle East has been a growth driver for the sector after years of stagnation elsewhere.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
Once‑iconic streets now bear the marks of long‑term stagnation and decline.
—Thomas E. Franklin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Even before Jimmy’s death, Stem had been interested in psychedelic treatment, which has undergone a resurgence after decades of stagnation.
—Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stagnation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagnation
Noun
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Given the choice of pulling out of half of their in-game buys during the sleepier quarters, marketers may choose to exercise those options if a recession is in full, sickly bloom.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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Last year, employers added an average of just 9,700 jobs a month, the weakest hiring outside a recession since 2002.—
Paul Wiseman,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Alex Bregman broke out of a 0-for-13 slump with three hits, and Javier Assad worked 5 2/3 shutout innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 9-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Its slump comes as investors continue to wring their hands over the possibility that AI tools like Claude Cowork might overtake Microsoft 365, which has been a major revenue driver for Microsoft.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This sharp satire of the entertainment industry tackles serious issues like addiction and depression while never skimping on the jokes.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In 2024, Ryyan was diagnosed with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD.—
Kennedy Cook,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stagnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagnation. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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