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
This low-mounding shade perennial sends up taller, slender stems with airy flower clusters, and the groundcover spreads by slowly creeping rhizomes.
—
Judy Nauseef, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Sturdy flower stems make for excellent cut flowers.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Other than longer stems to accommodate the cameras, the product will resemble the AirPods Pro 3.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Finally, Teo says Ethereal’s success stems in part from sticking to early-stage startups and resisting the temptation to jump on bandwagons.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 4 May 2026
Lilac shrubs also spread through suckers — new stems that sprout from the root system and can crowd out other plants.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
This is because squash plants produce prickly leaves and stems that rabbits dislike.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
The dispute stems, in part, an April 25, 2023 meeting at Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds’ New York City penthouse.
—Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
The arching stems and sprays of golden flowers provide food, nesting, and winter shelter for bumblebees, long-and short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, spiders, and more.
—Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 21 Apr. 2026
Judy Nauseef, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Sturdy flower stems make for excellent cut flowers.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Other than longer stems to accommodate the cameras, the product will resemble the AirPods Pro 3.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Finally, Teo says Ethereal’s success stems in part from sticking to early-stage startups and resisting the temptation to jump on bandwagons.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 4 May 2026
Lilac shrubs also spread through suckers — new stems that sprout from the root system and can crowd out other plants.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
This is because squash plants produce prickly leaves and stems that rabbits dislike.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
The dispute stems, in part, an April 25, 2023 meeting at Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds’ New York City penthouse.
—Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
The arching stems and sprays of golden flowers provide food, nesting, and winter shelter for bumblebees, long-and short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, spiders, and more.
—Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
Verb
-
What happens once the tour wraps, the season ends, the algorithm cools or the headlines wane?—
Sandra Richards,
Rolling Stone,
8 May 2026
-
The Senate passed its own version of the larger health bill so both chambers will have to find compromise before session ends May 18.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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As climate change delays the first winter frosts across much of North America, summer ragweed also keeps flowering longer, extending the latter part of pollen season into the fall, said David Wees, a faculty lecturer in horticulture at McGill University in Montreal.—
Keerti Gopal,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
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Copy-on-write is an optimization technique where a system delays making a separate copy of data until it is actually changed.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Verb
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When the game stops, it will be called on account of darkness.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
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Many guests are juggling packed itineraries—pyramid visits, museum stops, Nile cruise transfers—and the staff are well practiced at coordinating drivers, guides, and early departures.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
But Ho's order now halts that effective date.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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March 2 Oil and gas prices jumped during the first trading day since the strikes, as the war halts energy exports from the Middle East.—
Emma Graham,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In contrast, targeting NTR1 activates a particular signaling protein and blocks pain.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
But then maybe Embiid blocks him from behind.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
4 May 2026
Verb
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As the 2025-26 sports year concludes, fans hope stability has arrived — for real, this time — in the form of coach Kyle Whittingham.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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The 2026 Cannes Film Festival kicked off on Tuesday and concludes on May 23.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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