as in ends
to stop the progress or spread of (something)
efforts to stem the dramatic decline of an endangered species
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Clematis climbs by wrapping its short leaf stems around support structures and may initially require a string or wire to climb.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2025
Elliott’s relationship with Eschenbach stems back over a decade to his prior role as president and COO of VMware, where Elliott was a very active shareholder.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2025
Many experiments use hydroponic setups where seedlings are dunked into water with plastic particles, letting leaves and stems touch the mix directly.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
This plant gets its naked ladies’ common name from its naked flower stems that rise from the ground and bear a star-shaped, lavender-pink to lilac-pink flower.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
Barcelona’s municipal government, which has been contending with a housing crisis that stems, in part, from the conversion of many apartments into Airbnbs, has yet to decide whether to allow the demolition, but Sagrada Família officials are resolute.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
My friend had heard that this grass was special because of its rhizomes, underground stems that spread, out of which shoots and roots emerge from each of its nodes or joints along the stem.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
The current round of liberal hand-wringing about how conservatives have become far better at driving the political conversation stems in large part from Kirk.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The appeal stems less from current financials—which remain weak—and more from the pipeline’s transformative potential, particularly olezarsen’s opportunity.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2025
Elliott’s relationship with Eschenbach stems back over a decade to his prior role as president and COO of VMware, where Elliott was a very active shareholder.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2025
Many experiments use hydroponic setups where seedlings are dunked into water with plastic particles, letting leaves and stems touch the mix directly.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
This plant gets its naked ladies’ common name from its naked flower stems that rise from the ground and bear a star-shaped, lavender-pink to lilac-pink flower.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
Barcelona’s municipal government, which has been contending with a housing crisis that stems, in part, from the conversion of many apartments into Airbnbs, has yet to decide whether to allow the demolition, but Sagrada Família officials are resolute.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
My friend had heard that this grass was special because of its rhizomes, underground stems that spread, out of which shoots and roots emerge from each of its nodes or joints along the stem.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
The current round of liberal hand-wringing about how conservatives have become far better at driving the political conversation stems in large part from Kirk.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The appeal stems less from current financials—which remain weak—and more from the pipeline’s transformative potential, particularly olezarsen’s opportunity.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
Verb
-
The crucial monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was not published Friday and is among the data that will be delayed at least until the government shutdown ends.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The deal ends a legal dispute that began last year when Attorney General Dave Yost sued the school to block the potential sale of books and rare manuscripts from HUC's Klau Library.—
Dan Horn,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These early shifts—less COVID vaccination; fewer options for flu, MMR, and chickenpox vaccines; and, perhaps soon, delays to the hepatitis-B schedule—may seem benign enough.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.—
Jeremy Tanner,
The Hill,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The breakthrough centers on a one-atom-thick filter that stops sulfur chains from clogging up the battery.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
-
My colleague Hannah Pinski hit the road late last week for a couple campaign stops for Massie alongside Paul, his ally in the Senate.—
Lucas Aulbach,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At one point our conversation halts as Bailey gestures toward the window, where two men stroll past arm in arm.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Gun-toting Henry halts the escaping car and holds the nefarious trio at gunpoint.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Microsoft blocks Israeli military unit from cloud services Microsoft blocked an Israeli military unit from using some of its technology after finding it was used to surveil Palestinians.—
Claire Cameron,
semafor.com,
28 Sep. 2025
-
This way, Palace vacate the back post for Guehi, who can make a free run because Wharton blocks his marker, Diouf.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Like Week 2 of the NFL season, Week 4 concludes with dual MNF offerings.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Rodgers may still fully be planning to retire after the 2025 season concludes.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share