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
Stir in chard ribs and stems and cook until slightly softened, about 1 minute.
—
Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
This inconsistency stems partly from inadequate training but also from a system that doesn't effectively reward excellence or address poor performance.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Prune any leggy stems and cut each branch back by one or two segments to encourage a bushier shape.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 Jan. 2026
Cut brown orchid stems completely; green ones may need selective pruning.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026
Cut flower stems endure for several weeks, whether they are placed in a vase of water or used in a waterless, dry arrangement.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
After frost, check stems carefully, prune only dead wood, mulch roots, and avoid rushing repairs that may cause more harm.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
Christmas cactus stems potentially root quickly in winter.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026
Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
This inconsistency stems partly from inadequate training but also from a system that doesn't effectively reward excellence or address poor performance.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Prune any leggy stems and cut each branch back by one or two segments to encourage a bushier shape.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 Jan. 2026
Cut brown orchid stems completely; green ones may need selective pruning.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026
Cut flower stems endure for several weeks, whether they are placed in a vase of water or used in a waterless, dry arrangement.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
After frost, check stems carefully, prune only dead wood, mulch roots, and avoid rushing repairs that may cause more harm.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
Christmas cactus stems potentially root quickly in winter.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
Verb
-
Big and bold, this is often the museum that visitors talk about long after their Chicago trip ends.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The standoff ends when Lynch extends his left arm toward Bradley with the weapon in his hand, causing the officer to fire his service weapon once and Liu to fire two shots.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Defenses applied the same concepts, too, emphasizing full-court pressure, which delays the opposing attack.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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The order specifically delays a 30% duty on upholstered furniture and 50% levy on kitchen cabinets and vanities, keeping in place a 25% tariff on those goods that was imposed back in September.—
Sean Conlon,Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After the initial stomach issues subside, the toxin continues to invade the liver cells and stops them from making RNA (ribonucleic acid), which the body needs to make healing and protective proteins.—
Amy McGorry,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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In turn, breathing nearly stops, and its brain activity becomes barely detectable.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Should any of these conditions not be met, the contract halts and notifies all relevant parties.—
Matthew Kayser,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Jan. 2026
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Flights at New York City at LaGuardia Airport and JFK faced slight delays and halts Saturday afternoon.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Police have reported three incidents, all of them just blocks from each other in the South Shore and Grand Crossing communities.—
Natalie Goldstick,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
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The 24-year-old succeeds against all three levels of the pass defense, blocks well against defensive backs and even front-seven defenders and runs for yards off jet-motion touches, screens and downfield passes.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The White House on Monday sought to distance itself from those comments, declining to draw conclusions publicly until the investigation concludes.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
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The White House on Monday sought to distance itself from those comments, declining to draw conclusions publicly until the investigation concludes.—
Stephen Gruber-Miller,
Des Moines Register,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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