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
Leaving broken branches and stems in place potentially makes branch damage worse, allows bark to tear further, and leaves plants more exposed to diseases and winter winds.
—
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
Now is the time to prune back stems to create a uniform, fuller shape and promote branching for more flowers next season.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
Scientists first examined the chemical makeup of the plant’s stems and leaves that grow above ground.
—FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
The Calm team worked with the film’s sound designer, Lee Salevan, and composer Bryce Dessner, utilizing the film’s sound stems and score cues overlaid with sections of dialogue from Bentley and Greg Kwedar’s script.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
Truhn, who retired from the State Department in 2013, told the Herald that the ‘Ndrangheta’s success in the region stems in part from its ability to provide services that local governments cannot.
—Karen Wang, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Precise, individual cuts are made at an angle where branches or stems meet to remove specific, problematic parts.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
Now is the time to prune back stems to create a uniform, fuller shape and promote branching for more flowers next season.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
Scientists first examined the chemical makeup of the plant’s stems and leaves that grow above ground.
—FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
The Calm team worked with the film’s sound designer, Lee Salevan, and composer Bryce Dessner, utilizing the film’s sound stems and score cues overlaid with sections of dialogue from Bentley and Greg Kwedar’s script.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
Truhn, who retired from the State Department in 2013, told the Herald that the ‘Ndrangheta’s success in the region stems in part from its ability to provide services that local governments cannot.
—Karen Wang, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Precise, individual cuts are made at an angle where branches or stems meet to remove specific, problematic parts.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
Verb
-
If the state ends HHAP, the county hopes to find other sources of revenue to fund the shelters and other homeless programs, either from the general fund or elsewhere, said Kim Nava, a county spokesperson.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Other signs of unseasoned wood are bark that is tightly attached and a wet, fresh-looking center with lighter and drier looking wood near the edges or ends.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Department officials later told her in texts and emails that delays completing the more detailed review of Rochelle’s home were her fault.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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But that was before the arrival of teplizumab, a monoclonal antibody approved in late 2022 that delays the advance of the illness and may even halt it at stage 2 in some people.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The team that stops the run and mitigates mistakes will win this one.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
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The group stops to talk to one who took a fall while riding his bike in his neighborhood.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The order temporarily halts enforcement of the law on cruise ships while the appeals process moves forward, her email noted.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 Jan. 2026
-
Judge halts end of deportation protections for South Sudanese.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The order now blocks a previous ruling by a Rhode Island judge that required the payments to be paid out by Friday night, NBC News notes.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
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If the customer does not recognize the purchase, the bank blocks the transaction.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That concludes today’s newsletter.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Per the civil suit, the first group would automatically receive payments within 90 days, while the second group will need to complete a form once the initial payout period concludes.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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