1
as in blocking
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2
as in procrastinating
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1
as in halting
to bring (something) to a standstill
endless complaints stalled the process of selecting the winning design for the memorial
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2
as in dying
to stop functioning
the engine stalls sometimes when it's very cold outside
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stalling
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Because of these risks, the security implications of adopting AI are mounting faster than many enterprises can manage, leading to serious discussions on how to keep these systems safe without stalling progress.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The three vehicles involved in the crash were in the center divider, and two northbound lanes were blocked on the Capital City Freeway, stalling traffic during afternoon commute hours.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Grade Lane, a major road near the crash site, was closed indefinitely between Stooge and Crittenden, stalling local traffic and further restricting access to the scene.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Science has the inconvenient property of sometimes stalling out.
—James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The filibuster has played its part in stalling the passing of the Republican funding bill, as the filibuster rule mandates that 60 Senate votes are needed for most legislation.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Storms are stalling Just before or after landfall, hurricanes are now more likely to stall and dump immense amounts of rain, according to a study published last year.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
Other work from Kossin, a former scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who teaches at the University of Wisconsin, stands out for showing a trend toward slower-moving or even stalling North Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes at or near landfall.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows promised swift action and vowed to brook no more stalling tactics from Democrats.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Miami’s first drive stalls A Carson Beck sack ultimately led to Miami’s first drive of the game stalling near midfield.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Because of these risks, the security implications of adopting AI are mounting faster than many enterprises can manage, leading to serious discussions on how to keep these systems safe without stalling progress.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The three vehicles involved in the crash were in the center divider, and two northbound lanes were blocked on the Capital City Freeway, stalling traffic during afternoon commute hours.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Grade Lane, a major road near the crash site, was closed indefinitely between Stooge and Crittenden, stalling local traffic and further restricting access to the scene.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Science has the inconvenient property of sometimes stalling out.
—James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The filibuster has played its part in stalling the passing of the Republican funding bill, as the filibuster rule mandates that 60 Senate votes are needed for most legislation.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Storms are stalling Just before or after landfall, hurricanes are now more likely to stall and dump immense amounts of rain, according to a study published last year.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
Other work from Kossin, a former scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who teaches at the University of Wisconsin, stands out for showing a trend toward slower-moving or even stalling North Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes at or near landfall.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalling
Verb
-
An early-morning group stop ordered by the FAA due to staffing levels, halting all flights, gave way a short time later to a delay spurred by clouds and fog.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The cold causes bacteria to go dormant, temporarily halting their growth.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Singing this material with players who improvise — solos changing, every version being a little different — taught me about that urgent live-ensemble space where everyone’s living and dying by the next player onstage.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
5 Nov. 2025
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Shaw-naé explains how then-mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is dying to speak with her, how the Venmo CEO invited her to some fancy app meeting, all while Al Roker is buzzing on her phone to give an update on Friday’s upcoming dinner service.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Federal judge Julia Kobick in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Administration from enforcing the policy against Orr and six other individual plaintiffs in April.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Now, a passenger aircraft that can complete make the journey without stopping is in the final stages of construction, Qantas announced on Friday, releasing first images of the plane as it is assembled.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The plane then lifted slightly off the ground before crashing and exploding in a huge fireball.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Nov. 2025
-
That plane, an Airbus A300-600F, was found to have descended at an unsafe altitude, crashing and killing both members on board.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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And, through it all, stocks have continued to steadily rise, buoyed by hopes for Fed rate cuts, stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and slowing but stubborn confidence that an AI boom might reap big rewards for investors.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Chasing young shoppers has long been job number one in fashion — but actually catching them has never been so hard.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Marion had the breakout game, catching all three of his targets for 116 yards and a 61-yard touchdown.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Rams 23, 49ers 20 Lock of the Week Much was made this week about the Bills failing to acquire a wide receiver at the trade deadline and whether that handicaps their Super Bowl chances.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
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There was excessive growth of microtubules that wasn’t caused by an increase in gene activity, but likely due to the cells failing to clear away old or misfolded proteins.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The ingredient works by temporarily blocking nerve signals and causing muscles to relax.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Video shared by police shows a mix of motorcycles, scooters and ATVs blocking an intersection.—
Adam Sabes , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalling. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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