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stems

verb

present tense third-person singular of stem
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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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 After cutting open both stems and swapping the batteries between earbuds, iFixit noticed the buds could no longer be charged. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026 The reason Dancing With the Stars doesn’t air live for its West Coast audience stems back to local news and the coveted primetime programming slots. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026 Behind a finished installation are hours of sourcing, processing, designing, transporting and setting up the flowers, not to mention the creative expertise required to turn buckets of individual stems into a cohesive design. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026 Keep the paper bags 2 to 3 inches away from the base of plant stems and tree trunks to prevent moisture buildup and rot. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026 But to Schottenheimer, Jones’ defensive mind stems a lot further. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026 Show-stopping blooms grow on strong, woody stems that die back in winter. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026 For fuller-looking plants, pot several rooted stems together in a single container. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2026 Honeysuckle flowers can bloom on old wood or new wood from the current season, but stems older than a year won’t be as productive. — The Spruce, 13 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
  1. ends
  2. delays
  3. stops
  4. halts
  5. blocks
  6. concludes
Verb
  • Experts, including Higel, are doubtful that the Iraqi government will be able to disarm the Iran-loyal groups even if war between Iran and the US ends.
    — Sarah Tamimi, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
  • As for what’s going on with the cryptic buying up of team shares, that remains an ongoing mystery for much of the episode — one that ends without Higgins and Rebecca finding out who’s really behind the shenanigans.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of ends
Verb
  • Fat actually delays gastric emptying and digestion even more, keeping blood sugar much steadier.
    — Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Tennis has always been highly dependent on the weather; unlike in soccer or football, rain cancels or delays a match until the court is dry enough to be playable.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of delays
Verb
  • The Cowboys get the benefit of a Zay Flowers drop on third down that stops the red-hot Ravens offense in the red zone.
    — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2026
  • When Bender considers moving to a rival network, Wever fleshes out the tough carapace of a woman who, even under the thorniest of circumstances, never stops calculating her next move.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of stops
Verb
  • This natural inversion destroys leadership, fractures relationships and halts self-improvement.
    — Brendan Keegan, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • This halts the nuclear fusion process — which involves converting that hydrogen to helium — leading to the stars collapsing and shedding their outer layers to become a white dwarf with around the mass of the sun crammed into the width of Earth.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of halts
Verb
  • Existing law also blocks most states from systematically purging voters from their rolls within 90 days of an election, said David Becker, an election law expert who leads the Center for Election Innovation and Research.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
  • If your browser blocks a file or tells you a site looks dangerous, investigate before continuing.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of blocks
Verb
  • The report concludes that resilience must become a core strategic priority rather than a reactive response to crises.
    — Mitch New, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Once leadership concludes that the shift is structural, operational changes become more critical than budget cuts.
    — Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of concludes

Browse Nearby Words

stemming
stems
stench
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Cite this Entry

“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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