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
Each 60-inch cage supports tomato plant stems, and trains them to grow vertically for the highest yield.
—
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2026
Users can mix tracks right in the app or export the individual stems directly to a computer DAW or video editor.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Giving stems a very gentle shake when flowers first appear will help encourage fruit to set.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Don't be shy in your cuts, but be sure to leave enough woody stems on the bottom for the plant to regrow.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 15 June 2026
For vibrant purple stems that accent green leaves, opt for the Rainbow variety.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2026
Users can mix tracks right in the app or export the individual stems directly to a computer DAW or video editor.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Giving stems a very gentle shake when flowers first appear will help encourage fruit to set.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Don't be shy in your cuts, but be sure to leave enough woody stems on the bottom for the plant to regrow.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 15 June 2026
For vibrant purple stems that accent green leaves, opt for the Rainbow variety.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
Verb
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The robot handles laundry, and the clip ends before the messier second attempt.—
Robert J. Szczerba,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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Dallas Wings fans will be able to watch Azzi Fudd play basketball even after this WNBA season ends.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The deal delays highly technical discussions over the mechanics of unwinding Iran’s nuclear program.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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Lowe said that the government’s statutory inquiry risks becoming another long process that delays accountability, comparing it to other British scandals where official reckoning came only years later.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Burke won the Stanley Cup as Anaheim’s general manager in 2007, one of several front-office stops for him, along with time spent as the NHL’s director of hockey operations.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
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The nose stops registering any single note and the room just smells busy.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 June 2026
Verb
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The findings indicate that bird-watching and similar hobbies may support overall brain health, though researchers stop short of saying the activity definitively halts cognitive decline.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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The findings do not definitively prove that birding halts cognitive decline, but the evidence is promising.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The Earth’s atmosphere blocks most of the Sun’s radiation.—
Guy German,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
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This could be an indication that the P-trap under the sink has dried out, which means water no longer blocks unpleasant smells from rising.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
Verb
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The chapter concludes with the Ipnotica rings and earrings, whose rounded, asymmetrical forms are set with white and brown diamonds to create a sculptural bas-relief effect.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
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The celebration concludes with the city’s annual fireworks show at the Placer County Fairgrounds.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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