as in ends
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 stems
Giving stems a very gentle shake when flowers first appear will help encourage fruit to set.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Avoid the woody stems, which don't have the same flavor as the younger leaves.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 15 June 2026
The inland taipan’s claim to fame stems largely from toxicological studies showing that its venom is extraordinarily potent in laboratory testing.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
For vibrant purple stems that accent green leaves, opt for the Rainbow variety.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 12 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
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Avoid the woody stems, which don't have the same flavor as the younger leaves.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 15 June 2026
The inland taipan’s claim to fame stems largely from toxicological studies showing that its venom is extraordinarily potent in laboratory testing.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
For vibrant purple stems that accent green leaves, opt for the Rainbow variety.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 12 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
Verb
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Kyiv also wants to maintain a strong army after fighting ends, and Zelenskyy said the latest draft proposal puts it at 800,000 — higher than in an initial framework, according to reports.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
12 Dec. 2025
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The recipe just ends; no sauce.—
Adam Erace,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Apples delays rollout of new Siri features in Europe due to dispute over regulation.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
11 June 2026
-
Rain delays the next two days, however, could stretch the bullpen if starting pitchers are forced out of the game early.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
9 June 2026
Verb
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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
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The problem is that many people keep them for years after the manufacturer stops supporting them.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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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
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This halts the cooking process, preventing mushy, overcooked pasta, and removes the excess starch, which would otherwise cause the noodles to stick together.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Or a delivery truck that blocks a driver's view at a busy corner.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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The infotainment display in the CLA is so large that the right side of the steering wheel completely blocks all of its tiny UI elements along the left edge.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Live coverage on Fox News Channel kicks off Wednesday, June 24th and concludes on Sunday, July 5th, with correspondents and anchors stationed at the National Mall, Liberty State Park, Philadelphia, Mount Rushmore and Teddy Roosevelt’s Presidential Library, among others venues.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
16 June 2026
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The study concludes that continued monitoring and removal efforts will be necessary to prevent further expansion into sensitive ecosystems.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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