as in dwarf
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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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Recent Examples of stunted
Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
When this happens, plants in the pot may show signs of stress, such as yellowing leaves, stunted growth, or leaf drop.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, many gardeners never notice soil pH problems until their plants begin showing signs of stress, including stunted plant growth, poor crop yields, and yellowing leaves with deep green veins.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026
The arrival of the Beatles in 1964, however, effectively stunted Sedaka’s solo career.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026
Cold soil below 50 degrees Fahrenheit can cause root damage, stunted growth, and transplant shock.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
Even when expansion approvals are greenlit by people in power — which has been difficult enough for Waymo — they can be rescinded when support in hyperlocal jurisdictions appears stunted.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Matthew Patrick Davis accentuates with a wink the callowness of Joseph II, an emperor who perhaps sees in Mozart a reflection of his own stunted nature.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Edward’s younger brother Robert (Lukas Gage) spends his days doing little but pining most inappropriately for the attentions of eldest sibling Jack (Jamie Bell), while the stunted, oversexed energy of lone sister Anna (Riley Keough) spits in all directions.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Ensuing blackouts have hit essential sectors, namely health care, while a lack of fuel has stunted the island’s vital tourism industry.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
But the steady deterioration of what used to be Twitter has stunted the conversations on the app.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
In fact, all members of the cabbage family can be stunted by clubroot, which is more likely to infect roots in acidic soil.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
Van der Westhuizen loved to play cricket and rugby, but the segregationist apartheid regime stunted that dream by restricting him from testing his mettle with talented Black athletes.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Every time Young would have a positive play or two, a drive would be stunted by a penalty or an execution setback.
—Mike Kaye
updated January 3, Charlotte Observer, 4 Jan. 2026
Bureaucrats have stunted the development of stock markets, and their distrust of private enterprise has scared off investors and venture capitalists.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Beijing’s almost singular focus on building its industrial base has also stunted the development of a balanced domestic market.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Avoid pruning more than one-third of the growth, as this can lead to stunted blooms.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
When this happens, plants in the pot may show signs of stress, such as yellowing leaves, stunted growth, or leaf drop.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, many gardeners never notice soil pH problems until their plants begin showing signs of stress, including stunted plant growth, poor crop yields, and yellowing leaves with deep green veins.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026
The arrival of the Beatles in 1964, however, effectively stunted Sedaka’s solo career.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026
Cold soil below 50 degrees Fahrenheit can cause root damage, stunted growth, and transplant shock.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
Even when expansion approvals are greenlit by people in power — which has been difficult enough for Waymo — they can be rescinded when support in hyperlocal jurisdictions appears stunted.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Matthew Patrick Davis accentuates with a wink the callowness of Joseph II, an emperor who perhaps sees in Mozart a reflection of his own stunted nature.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Edward’s younger brother Robert (Lukas Gage) spends his days doing little but pining most inappropriately for the attentions of eldest sibling Jack (Jamie Bell), while the stunted, oversexed energy of lone sister Anna (Riley Keough) spits in all directions.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
Also, the frantic movement among players and coaches during the NIL era has perhaps stunted the growth of college quarterbacks.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Ensuing blackouts have hit essential sectors, namely health care, while a lack of fuel has stunted the island’s vital tourism industry.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
But the steady deterioration of what used to be Twitter has stunted the conversations on the app.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
In fact, all members of the cabbage family can be stunted by clubroot, which is more likely to infect roots in acidic soil.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
Van der Westhuizen loved to play cricket and rugby, but the segregationist apartheid regime stunted that dream by restricting him from testing his mettle with talented Black athletes.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Every time Young would have a positive play or two, a drive would be stunted by a penalty or an execution setback.
—Mike Kaye
updated January 3, Charlotte Observer, 4 Jan. 2026
Bureaucrats have stunted the development of stock markets, and their distrust of private enterprise has scared off investors and venture capitalists.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Beijing’s almost singular focus on building its industrial base has also stunted the development of a balanced domestic market.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunted
Adjective
-
Note, however, that dwarf butterfly bushes, such as the Lo & Behold series, grow slowly and require little or no pruning; do not cut them back to ground level but only shape them gently as needed.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Fill the container with potting soil for acid-loving plants and choose a dwarf variety rhododendron like: Rhododendron 'Peter J. Mezzit': A dwarf evergreen rhododendron ideal for containers.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And an underpinning of loneliness and suppressed yearning.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Despite losing a similar argument in federal court at the end of January, accused CEO assassin Luigi Mangione's defense team is again vying to have damning evidence from his backpack suppressed in a New York state court.—
Michael Ruiz , Maria Paronich,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While much of the Yucatan peninsula is covered by rain forest, the landscape designers improved on nature here creating a jungle that is less scrubby than the real thing and instead planted with dramatic Mexican fan palms and other tropical trees that create a solid green wall.—
John Newton,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Banks are fringed with grasses and scrubby trees, as colorful hills slant down to the water.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Then, as her fingers raced across the fretboard of an upright bass that dwarfed her petite figure, Amy Gadiaga wove vocal magic.—
Deborah Sengupta Stith,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Even that number may be dwarfed by the number of claims not yet brought.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Republicans have a tiny majority in the House, but a larger margin for error in the Senate, except for the filibuster.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The tiny Kensington restaurant is a rare regional destination for the food of the archipelagos, a responsibility its owner does not take lightly.—
Elazar Sontag,
Washington Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ukraine and Hungary have been locked in an escalating feud since Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia were halted in January as the result of damage to the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory.—
LORNE COOK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Amid the war, Iran has effectively halted nearly all tanker movement in the key Strait of Hormuz, cutting off a vital passageway where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil once sailed through on a typical day.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The wipeout has erased over $265 billion in market cap; Blackstone and Blue Owl are now trading far below their levels of late 2021, and the sudden drop left KKR, Apollo and Ares showing puny, market-trailing gains over that near half-decade.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
By contrast, the G-Wiz is comparatively puny.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Homelessness is a subject that cuts to the core of Mamdani’s vision of a New York where safety and inclusivity are not in conflict, where the quality of life in the city is improved and not diminished by one’s proximity to fellow New Yorkers.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
None of that diminished its appeal to America’s enemies.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunted. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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