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
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
Floating row covers or garden blankets can also be used to protect leaves and stems if extra protection is needed during the coldest part of winter.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
The dust-up stems back to the Spanish singer’s recent appearance on the New York Times’ Popcast, where she was asked about singing in about 13 different languages one her new album Lux and the challenges of communicating with a global audience.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Just gather old daylily leaves and stems in one hand and use garden scissors or hand pruners to trim the leaves a few inches above the soil line.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025
In tandem, Molly wears a Mango jacket, pink Charlie Beads bloomers, pale pink Hereu flats, and an APC demi-lune bag the color of the pincushion stems in the reference photo.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
The impasse stems largely from disputes over spending levels for domestic programs, border security and foreign aid.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
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
Floating row covers or garden blankets can also be used to protect leaves and stems if extra protection is needed during the coldest part of winter.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
The dust-up stems back to the Spanish singer’s recent appearance on the New York Times’ Popcast, where she was asked about singing in about 13 different languages one her new album Lux and the challenges of communicating with a global audience.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Just gather old daylily leaves and stems in one hand and use garden scissors or hand pruners to trim the leaves a few inches above the soil line.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025
In tandem, Molly wears a Mango jacket, pink Charlie Beads bloomers, pale pink Hereu flats, and an APC demi-lune bag the color of the pincushion stems in the reference photo.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
The impasse stems largely from disputes over spending levels for domestic programs, border security and foreign aid.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
Verb
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But Duffy said air traffic controllers probably wouldn’t return to work right away, even if the shutdown ends.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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From arts and history to beaches and boardwalks, these four coastal towns are worth a visit after the busy season ends.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
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 elevator stops at each floor and a new ghostly guest arrives offering some insight into Will’s plan.—
Amber McBride,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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Some gardeners choose to pinch those old flowers away every day to enhance the look of their plants, while others decide to wait until the entire flower scape stops blooming to cut the scape stem down to the soil line.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This designation halts outpatient and elective procedures and ensures more beds are open for emergencies.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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Park websites and social media accounts also go dark, fire management plans are paused, and wildlife tracking halts midseason.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
23 Oct. 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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Isaacman’s nuclear vision also proposes that NASA centers working on projects like the Space Launch System rocket — including the Marshall and Michoud facilities in Alabama and Louisiana — shift their focus to nuclear electric propulsion development when the SLS program concludes.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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The new run, produced by Live Nation, kicks off at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Saturday, February 28 and concludes at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK on Tuesday, December 29.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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