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
Spare the Stems More critically, stems and spent flowers serve better purposes than removal.
—
Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 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
To winterize hardy hibiscus, cut back the plant’s stems to a few inches above soil level once the foliage begins to die.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Splatter paints, stems for flowers, spitball fights!
—Lauren Silbert, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 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
Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 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
To winterize hardy hibiscus, cut back the plant’s stems to a few inches above soil level once the foliage begins to die.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Splatter paints, stems for flowers, spitball fights!
—Lauren Silbert, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
Verb
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Both ends of the leash will simply enjoy having people pet the therapy dog, chat with the handler, try to calm their nerves before running their big race, and, hopefully, have a significant, measurable feeling of relaxation.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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The Heat then ends the trip on Wednesday against the Nuggets in Denver.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 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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Still, this has always been a very personal conflict between Yennefer and Vilgefortz, which is why Vilgefortz finally stops letting his minions do all the fighting and jumps through the portal himself.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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Your insides become weightless, like when a fast elevator suddenly stops, or a plane drops from turbulence.—
Stephanie Land,
Time,
30 Oct. 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 October court order rejects the Department of Education’s motion to dismiss the case and blocks the administration from implementing the discontinuation against nearly 50 grantees across the country while the lawsuit continues.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
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Because the Moon blocks the transmissions from Yutu-2 to Earth, the Chinese rover used a relay satellite to communicate with its base back home.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When the investigation concludes, the DA's office will present the findings to a grand jury to determine whether charges will be filed.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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The three major indexes are still all tracking to end the month — which concludes with today’s closing bell — in the green.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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