STUNTED Synonyms: 188 Similar and Opposite Words

stunted 1 of 2

adjective

as in dwarf

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stunted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of stunt

as in suppressed

to hold back the normal growth of unfortunately, an unusually dry summer seems to have permanently stunted the tree

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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 stunted

Adjective

Still, the emotionally stunted John claims not to harbor ill feelings toward Hal, though this is most certainly challenged by the end of the episode. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 According to Hancock, underfertilized petunias classically experience slow or stunted growth, chlorotic (pale) growth, and reduced flowering. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 31 Aug. 2026 There were no fences or other land-ownership demarcations on the steep slope covered by grass, stunted junipers, and large rocks. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026 Doctors who reviewed her death records said her stunted growth would have been obvious earlier in childhood, when her tumor could have been diagnosed and treated. — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 Plzeňský Prazdroj, the country’s largest beer producer, expects to incur losses this year due to a stunted hops yield. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 Look for stunted growth, browning or yellowing leaves, wilting or dropping leaves, brown leaf tips, and smelly soil to determine what’s going on. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026 Without these nutrients, optimal brain growth can be stunted. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 And trimming too much of this plant can make the tree appear stunted or uneven. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026

Verb

Ho-seok has been laid off from his job following an incident that has stunted his life and his ability to communicate with his family. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026 On Saturday, after a fourth-down false start penalty stunted the Rams’ first drive, Bennett threw his two best passes of the game during the next one. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026 Just a few hours from the Arctic Ocean, the exercise helps the Miami native narrow his view to suit a world stunted by extreme cold. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 At 6-months-old, she was diagnosed with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that gradually took away her vision, stunted her growth and caused joint and muscle pain. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 VanSumeren played both positions with the Eagles over three seasons, although injuries have stunted his evolution. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 July 2026 This lack of competition has stunted the organizational capacity of both the Democratic and Republican Parties, rendering them hollow and unable to cultivate, train, or support a pipeline of young candidates. — Peter Gosselin, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 There were high hopes for the 2024 Big East Conference Player of the Year when former general manager Monte McNair drafted Carter, but his growth was stunted by a shoulder injury and a logjam in Sacramento’s backcourt. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026 The rap has certainly stunted the price of the stock. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 14 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunted

Adjective

Bare-root fruit trees that produce fruit the fastest are typically dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 28 July 2026
Look for citrus varieties grafted onto dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock so the citrus tree stays small and doesn’t need to be pruned or re-potted as often.

— Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2026

Definition of dwarf

Adjective

The brick pathway at my feet passed through a small ornamental fence, crossed some scrubby grass, then ran up the steps to the Helen Keller Birthplace at Ivy Green.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
At first glance, Komodo National Park seems austere with its volcanic hills covered in scrubby grass instead of the dense tropical foliage found elsewhere in Indonesia.

— Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrubby

Verb

In 2025, the total jumped to at least 39 arrests, and that number is dwarfed by at least 77 detentions at airports just in July of 2026.

— Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Although the ivory shipment was reported to be the biggest ever at Quy Nhơn, it has been dwarfed by several others in the last decade of more than 7 tons each in the central port city of Da Nang and the northern port of Haiphong.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of dwarfed

Adjective

Our study takes only a tiny step – but still a step – in that direction, helping to nail down the mechanism of exotic superconductivity in graphene.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
The grand scale of cosmic time reminds her (and us) that social mores and strictures are tiny, meaningless things, that what matters is passion and freedom.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of tiny

Verb

Public tours of the property were halted, owing to all the construction, but, before that, docents had noticed the President walking the grounds and slipping notes to gardeners and landscapers.

— Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
An initial executive order Trump issued last year to change election rules, including a requirement for people to show documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, was halted by federal judges.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of halted

Adjective

To achieve a similar impact, Johnson appears to be wearing a muscular silicone suit over his 6-foot-5 frame, but the extra padding just makes his head look puny.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
For example, in another suit litigating the effects of social media on children, a jury settled in March on the comparatively puny figure of $6 million, distributed between Meta and YouTube.

— David B Mcgarry, Oc Register, 8 July 2026

Definition of puny

Verb

Beyond that, sharpening a feel for when the initial danger has diminished should help the quarterback find a little extra time and space to reset and attack.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Foreign central banks and other institutions looking for a safe place to park their capital have diminished roles in the Treasury market and have increasingly turned to alternative havens like gold.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminished

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

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Synonyms of stunted

adjective

verb

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