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
Donovan noted that Collins likely will need a longer ramp-up period after he is medically cleared because of the muscle stagnation created by using the walking boot.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Pressure with no credible pathway to change can harden control and deepen Cuba's dependence on whichever patrons are still willing to underwrite and subsidize its stagnation.
—Ricardo Torres, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
When circulation is blocked, liquidity dries up, stagnation sets in, and economic depression can follow.
—Jeff Mayhugh, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The protests, driven by dissatisfaction at Iran's economic stagnation and galloping hyperinflation, began Sunday in Tehran's largest mobile phone market, where shopkeepers shuttered their businesses.
—CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagnation
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Pressure with no credible pathway to change can harden control and deepen Cuba's dependence on whichever patrons are still willing to underwrite and subsidize its stagnation.
—Ricardo Torres, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
When circulation is blocked, liquidity dries up, stagnation sets in, and economic depression can follow.
—Jeff Mayhugh, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The protests, driven by dissatisfaction at Iran's economic stagnation and galloping hyperinflation, began Sunday in Tehran's largest mobile phone market, where shopkeepers shuttered their businesses.
—CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagnation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagnation
Noun
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In a recession In a rough economy, gold often takes the lead, living up to its reputation as a safe haven.—
Sharon Wu,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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For all of 2025, employers added just 584,000 jobs, a sharp decline from 2 million jobs in 2024 and the weakest year outside of a recession since the early 2000s.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Namestnikov ended a 29-game goal drought, while Toews halted a 26-game scoring slump.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images BEIJING — Chinese policymakers may be finally warming to the idea of tackling the country’s worsening real estate slump, raising expectations that stronger support measures could be coming later this year.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And while medications and therapy are important tools, Fabiano says exercise is recognized as a preferred treatment for depression.—
Allison Aubrey,
NPR,
12 Jan. 2026
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The country legend struggled with her mental health and suffered from suicidal depression.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stagnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagnation. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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