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
Historically, major asset cycles often see five or more years of correction or stagnation, followed by slow recoveries.
—
Alice Liu, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Mexico has since emerged as Cuba’s single largest external oil supplier, making its role critical for an island already crippled by chronic energy shortages, rolling blackouts and deepening economic stagnation.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
By comparison, many peer economies are struggling with demographic decline, energy dependence or structural stagnation.
—Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
This reframes the stagnation argument.
—Ahmed Elgammal, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stagnation
Alice Liu, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Mexico has since emerged as Cuba’s single largest external oil supplier, making its role critical for an island already crippled by chronic energy shortages, rolling blackouts and deepening economic stagnation.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
By comparison, many peer economies are struggling with demographic decline, energy dependence or structural stagnation.
—Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
This reframes the stagnation argument.
—Ahmed Elgammal, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stagnation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagnation
Noun
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Room for Disagreement Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, warned of an impending recession, in part due to consumption outpacing wages.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Investors want more interest rate cuts that will support consumer spending and corporate profits, but not so many that would indicates the economy is slowing down or at risk of recession.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As China struggles with a prolonged economic slump, and the US has emerged with the highest number of billionaires in the world, with over 900 (up from 813 in 2024), more splashy events in the country will follow.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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Snapping Marta Suarez’s slump One reason TCU hasn’t looked as dominant since the start of the New Year is the play of graduate forward Marta Suarez.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Make shallow depressions for your rhizomes and cover so new green growth sits just above the soil surface.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
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Don’t sink into depression, this is temporary!—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stagnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagnation. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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