stumps 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of stump
1
2
as in dares
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat when my grandfather was a kid, he and his friends would stump one another to dive into the local swimming hole

Synonyms & Similar Words

stumps

2 of 2

noun

plural of stump

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 stumps
Verb
Also, check rocks, stumps or logs before sitting down. Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026 Or arrange a bunch of tree stumps around a fire pit to create seating that the kids will love. Jenny Hughes, The Spruce, 25 May 2026 Turkey tail grows on dead logs and tree stumps in overlapping layers that resemble a wild bird’s plumage. Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026 For more than two months, a helicopter has been hard at work removing dead trees and stumps from the reservoir using a special device. Olivia Young, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026 David Hogg stumps for Mai Vang in 7th District primary. Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026 This is because tendons that normally curl the toes downward (such as when cats knead your lap) pull on the amputation stumps so that the stumps rub on the ground, and no mechanism remains to oppose that action. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026 Ancient artifacts found beneath Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as one mystery still stumps researchers. FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026 In 1938, Pennington pitched a tent outside the hiring hall for workers building the Shasta Dam, set up some tree stumps for seats and started hawking grub. Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumps
Verb
  • As though on cue, Wardrobe — my beloved, and giant, closet — shuffles over from the corner of my room, the mahogany wood groaning with the effort.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
  • As the entire Qatar back line shuffles closer to the goal, Jonathan David drops off towards the penalty spot to receive the cross in space and shoot first time.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • More than a century later, the Chicago World's Fair remains one of the most remarkable chapters in this city's history and a powerful reminder of what can happen when a city dares to dream big.
    Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 27 June 2026
  • Then comes Erling Haaland, a high-speed human bulldozer, striking the fear of God into any defender or goalkeeper who dares stand in his way.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Food often contains residues from multiple pesticides, as monitoring programs in Europe and the United States have identified.
    Brad Reisfeld, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • Considerations Before Getting Started Avoid harsh cleaners and tools that can be too abrasive and damage the metal surface or leave harmful residues behind.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • If anything, the dichotomy between the pop star who prances around Versailles in a sheer nightie and the pop star who stomps onstage in knee-high combat boots feels completely authentic and intentional.
    Chelsey Sanchez, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • Suddenly, the trees part and a Tyrannosaurus rex stomps into view.
    RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • For example, a free kick should be awarded in such circumstances if an offside player blocks an opponent’s view of the ball, challenges an opponent for the ball, or tries to play it but misses.
    Graham Scott, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • One seeks to block prosecutors from relying on certain hearsay evidence during the preliminary hearing, while the other challenges Graf's decision not to require key witness Lance Twiggs to testify in person.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • Little parts of your vestiges — politically — are gonna be scattered all over the state of Michigan, never to be seen again.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 July 2026
  • For anyone wanting to see or experience the sites and vestiges of Miami’s ancient inhabitants, the people known as Tequesta and their even more enigmatic Archaic forebears, there are only a few places to go.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • In the first, a quick history tour revisits how bad Minions have been in their quest to find villains to serve, until one group lands in 1920s Hollywood and stumbles into stardom.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 7 July 2026
  • After a chance meeting saving the life of a reporter, Dez stumbles across a vast conspiracy and now must stop the forces intent on keeping their secrets safe.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Hurricanes displace communities, fires leave charred remnants.
    Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • But beyond these genetic remnants, the exact nature of any interactions between our species and Neanderthals is much more of a mystery.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 6 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumps. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on stumps

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!