stills

verb

present tense third-person singular of still
1
as in stops
to bring (something) to a standstill it seemed as though nothing could still the fighting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in calms
to free from distress or disturbance reading a book helps me to relax and still my mind before going to bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shushes
to stop the noise or speech of the conversation was abruptly stilled by a loud crash from the next room

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 stills And stills the curiosity, communication, and debate on which any self-aware democracy depends. — Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stills
  1. stops
  2. calms
  3. shushes
  4. stalls
  5. composes
  6. silences
  7. catches
  8. soothes
Verb
  • Former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins hurls a deep ball toward Jefferson in double coverage, and McCardell stops the play.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Newsom’s moratorium stops the state from carrying out those sentences.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of stops
Verb
  • For me, the biggest thing is once the fire calms down from a game, there’s more learning points for me than in the past.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Niacinamide — a multi-functional ingredient that strengthens the skin barrier, regulates oil production, and calms and fades discoloration — is also in the mix.
    — Claudia Fisher, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of calms
Verb
  • Before the chatter can continue, Sharon Leone (Diane Farr), the Cal Fire Division Chief and mother of Bode Leone (Max Thieriot), quickly shushes everyone and reminds them to focus.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
Definition of shushes
Verb
  • Paying Down Data Debt Without Halting AI The mistake most organizations make is treating data debt paydown as a two-year infrastructure project that stalls the AI road map.
    — Gopichand Mannava, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • This process stalls improvements for years.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of stalls
Verb
  • The man composes his responses with the help of a manual that instructs him on which incoming string of Chinese characters should be answered with which other string of Chinese characters.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Agent authority composes dynamically.
    — Harsh Singhal, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Definition of composes
Verb
  • The 42mm transducer system pumps out breathtaking dynamic range, while Adaptive Noise Cancellation effortlessly silences noisy dorm halls and busy coffee shops.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This fails to mention that partisan gerrymandering silences the voices of the voters in the district who deserve representation, especially voters from underrepresented groups that are disproportionately affected by these efforts.
    — Reese Ritter, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of silences
Verb
  • The side tables offer prep space, and the extra-large drip pan catches any residual grease.
    — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Here's how the scam works and how to protect yourself before a fake MyChart alert catches you off guard.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of catches
Verb
  • Anything that soothes that, or gives them more-than-human capacities—that’s just unhelpful to them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This Loops x Dune mist is so refreshing— an instant burst of coolness that also soothes and rehydrates my skin without disrupting my makeup.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of soothes

Browse Nearby Words

stillness
stills
stilly
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Cite this Entry

“Stills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stills. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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