as in ends
to stop the progress or spread of (something)
efforts to stem the dramatic decline of an endangered species
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stems
Remove dead or damaged branches, and cut back any woody stems below the damage to a set of healthy leaves.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
In these spaces, ticks often wait on the tips of grass blades, plant stems, and tree branches with their front legs ready to grasp onto any host that happens to brush by or walk under overhanging foliage.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026
According to a helpful monograph called Ancient Potato Varieties of Tenerife, potatoes aren’t the fruit of the potato plant but its underground stems.
—Tamar Adler, Vogue, 3 June 2026
Remove stems thicker than 2 inches in diameter to control the overall height.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026
Pea shoots are the delicate leaves, stems and tendrils of the snow pea plant.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
The real lottery win stems directly from the unique circumstances of his roster journey during the 2025-26 campaign.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
That NextEra could rack up a string of scandals and still extract multi-billion-dollar rate hikes for FPL stems directly from weak-kneed, inept oversight by the Florida Public Service Commission.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026
Prune Away Dead and Weak Stems Prune away stems that are dead or weak.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 29 May 2026
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
In these spaces, ticks often wait on the tips of grass blades, plant stems, and tree branches with their front legs ready to grasp onto any host that happens to brush by or walk under overhanging foliage.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026
According to a helpful monograph called Ancient Potato Varieties of Tenerife, potatoes aren’t the fruit of the potato plant but its underground stems.
—Tamar Adler, Vogue, 3 June 2026
Remove stems thicker than 2 inches in diameter to control the overall height.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026
Pea shoots are the delicate leaves, stems and tendrils of the snow pea plant.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
The real lottery win stems directly from the unique circumstances of his roster journey during the 2025-26 campaign.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
That NextEra could rack up a string of scandals and still extract multi-billion-dollar rate hikes for FPL stems directly from weak-kneed, inept oversight by the Florida Public Service Commission.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026
Prune Away Dead and Weak Stems Prune away stems that are dead or weak.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
Verb
-
Chakraborty’s Obie-winning turn anchors the show with maternal rigor and restraint, as mother and son test how art might brace a fragile heart; the brief run ends Saturday.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
These individuals excel at visibility, strategy decks and company-wide communications, but their actual influence ends just at the cusp of acting on it.—
Dr. Adil Dalal,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Likewise, if a player deliberately delays a throw-in, the opposing team could be given the throw-in instead.—
Russell Lewis,
NPR,
12 June 2026
-
This can make conversations feel heavier, delays more frustrating and feedback harder to digest.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The closest Metra stops to the Obama Presidential Center are on the Metra Electric Line, which also makes stops at McCormick Place and Millennium Park.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Yamal stops at Walmart before the World Cup.—
Alex Connor,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The late-night order halts what would have been the nation’s ninth nitrogen execution, a rare reprieve in a state where recent nitrogen deaths involved shaking, gasping and prolonged suffering.—
Kim Chandler,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Filing for bankruptcy can trigger an automatic stay that generally halts most collection actions, including lawsuits, garnishments and bank levies, while the case is being processed.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Or a delivery truck that blocks a driver's view at a busy corner.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
-
The decision effectively blocks foreign governments, businesses, researchers, and individuals, as well as foreign nationals residing in the US, from using the company’s latest AI systems.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
But the spending wasn't enough to help Steyer break through the top two, McCuan concludes.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
The 2026 Tribeca Film Festival kicked off on June 3 and concludes on June 14.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
