as in delaying
to stop the progress or spread of (something)
efforts to stem the dramatic decline of an endangered species
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Recent Examples of stemming
McKinley County's poor infrastructure reflects its disproportionately high poverty rate — triple the national average — stemming in part from the closings of mines, power plants and oil refineries.
—
Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
The sport of canyoneering involves rappelling, down-climbing, wading, and stemming, or stretching your arms and legs across the narrowest section of a canyon and using pressure to slowly progress.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
Wilcox’s defenses have multiple fronts using four and three down linemen, stemming on the same play and disguised coverages.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 12 Sep. 2025
The actress has become known for her partnership with director Sofia Coppola stemming all the way back to her 1999 film The Virgin Suicides, and has gone on to work with the famous director on other cult fave projects including Marie Antoinette and 2017’s The Beguiled.
—Katherine Singh, Refinery29, 9 Sep. 2025
Even though Josh and Arteta have a good relationship, stemming back to when Arteta played for the club, Lewis is the conduit between the club and ownership.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
The news was certainly a shock to many, with concerns stemming mostly from the unknown.
—Dana Reboe, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
And Joan and Nancy’s strained relationship — stemming back to their tumultuous childhoods with their abusive father — eventually leads Joan to seek employment elsewhere.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 2 Oct. 2024
Setting the right level of immigration might, however, prove arbitrary and difficult, not to mention insufficient for stemming flows, which may persist so long as the EU keeps expanding and life seems better in the west than in the east.
—Tej Parikh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Mar. 2017
Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
The sport of canyoneering involves rappelling, down-climbing, wading, and stemming, or stretching your arms and legs across the narrowest section of a canyon and using pressure to slowly progress.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
Wilcox’s defenses have multiple fronts using four and three down linemen, stemming on the same play and disguised coverages.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 12 Sep. 2025
The actress has become known for her partnership with director Sofia Coppola stemming all the way back to her 1999 film The Virgin Suicides, and has gone on to work with the famous director on other cult fave projects including Marie Antoinette and 2017’s The Beguiled.
—Katherine Singh, Refinery29, 9 Sep. 2025
Even though Josh and Arteta have a good relationship, stemming back to when Arteta played for the club, Lewis is the conduit between the club and ownership.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
The news was certainly a shock to many, with concerns stemming mostly from the unknown.
—Dana Reboe, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
And Joan and Nancy’s strained relationship — stemming back to their tumultuous childhoods with their abusive father — eventually leads Joan to seek employment elsewhere.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 2 Oct. 2024
Setting the right level of immigration might, however, prove arbitrary and difficult, not to mention insufficient for stemming flows, which may persist so long as the EU keeps expanding and life seems better in the west than in the east.
—Tej Parikh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Mar. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stemming
Verb
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These cuts mean reducing supply budgets in most departments, delaying the purchase of new math curriculum and Chromebooks, freezing hiring for nonclassroom positions and canceling contract agreements that will not disrupt operations.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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In such cases, delaying treatment may worsen the condition.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
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The cold causes bacteria to go dormant, temporarily halting their growth.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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Framing his win as a reclamation of sovereignty, Muizzu expelled Indian troops and canceled defense agreements with New Delhi, abruptly ending decades of security cooperation between the two countries.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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Markets gain on hopes of US shutdown ending US lawmakers on Monday inched closer to reopening the government, as the White House backed a deal that advanced in the Senate.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Nguyen allegedly charged toward a Homeland Security Investigations officer during a street fight, scraping the officer’s knees, though prosecutors dropped the federal case before indictment after concluding the evidence was too weak to proceed.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Nov. 2025
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The team finished 10-22 overall last season, concluding the season with six consecutive losses.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Polls previously found Abughazaleh in second place in the Democratic primary, but her run could be complicated by a federal indictment for impeding an ICE operation in Chicago.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Nov. 2025
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Previously, his arguments have been focused largely on moderating inflation and the importance of the Fed not impeding economic growth with higher rates.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The ingredient works by temporarily blocking nerve signals and causing muscles to relax.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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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
Verb
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Numerous people continued to protest outside the farm’s fences, and CFIA has warned the farm’s supporters from hindering government operations, or flying drones over the site.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Insufficient domestic funding is hindering education progress in Africa as most governments fail to meet global funding benchmarks, wrote Human Rights Watch.—
Obiageli Ezekwesili,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stemming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stemming. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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