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
Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Gaspar-Oliveri doesn’t sensationalize the boy’s behavior but presents it as a devastating consequence of a stunted childhood.
—Carlos Aguilar, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
If allowed to outgrow their pots, any of these types of plants can become stunted.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2026
Crowding leads to disease, pests and stunted growth.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
Plants need airflow and room for their roots, and crowding leads straight to disease, pests and stunted growth.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Crowding leads to disease, pest pressure and stunted growth.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
The shooting caused severe brain damage and left him disabled, with stunted brain development and problems with both short and long term memory, his attorney said.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
The director, Antoine Fuqua, working with a script by John Logan, portrays Michael as an emotionally stunted and grievously wounded artist of historic greatness.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Unlike his three sisters, Branwell, his artistic career stunted by alcoholism and an opium addiction, never published.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Eight years later, however, Saudi Arabia’s moviemaking ambitions have yet to materialize, stunted by regional turmoil and a failure to recognize what audiences want.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 May 2026
And the constant presence of four effortlessly irresistible sisters, each unfolding towards the light like a peony, has stunted her growth.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 May 2026
The media mogul stunted in a pair of brown cargo pants while attending the Stella McCartney show.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Murdock constructed the North Carolina Research Campus, but his plans to revitalize the town were stunted by the 2008 recession.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
If Rue’s growth has been stunted by her addiction, Cassie’s (Sydney Sweeney) has been stunted by her attachment to her high school self.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
Still, a day later her leg swelled dangerously with what’s called compartment syndrome, in which blood flow becomes built up and stunted in a certain area and causes immense pressure.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
My blue hostas at home became stunted, more green than blue and burned at leaf edges after the removal of a tree increased the afternoon sun.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Gaspar-Oliveri doesn’t sensationalize the boy’s behavior but presents it as a devastating consequence of a stunted childhood.
—Carlos Aguilar, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
If allowed to outgrow their pots, any of these types of plants can become stunted.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2026
Crowding leads to disease, pests and stunted growth.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
Plants need airflow and room for their roots, and crowding leads straight to disease, pests and stunted growth.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Crowding leads to disease, pest pressure and stunted growth.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
The shooting caused severe brain damage and left him disabled, with stunted brain development and problems with both short and long term memory, his attorney said.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
The director, Antoine Fuqua, working with a script by John Logan, portrays Michael as an emotionally stunted and grievously wounded artist of historic greatness.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
For students whose school years were stunted by the COVID-19 pandemic, turning to social media for information can be natural.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Unlike his three sisters, Branwell, his artistic career stunted by alcoholism and an opium addiction, never published.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Eight years later, however, Saudi Arabia’s moviemaking ambitions have yet to materialize, stunted by regional turmoil and a failure to recognize what audiences want.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 May 2026
And the constant presence of four effortlessly irresistible sisters, each unfolding towards the light like a peony, has stunted her growth.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 May 2026
The media mogul stunted in a pair of brown cargo pants while attending the Stella McCartney show.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Murdock constructed the North Carolina Research Campus, but his plans to revitalize the town were stunted by the 2008 recession.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
If Rue’s growth has been stunted by her addiction, Cassie’s (Sydney Sweeney) has been stunted by her attachment to her high school self.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
Still, a day later her leg swelled dangerously with what’s called compartment syndrome, in which blood flow becomes built up and stunted in a certain area and causes immense pressure.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunted
Adjective
-
Semi-dwarf varieties grow to between 3 and 8 feet tall, while giant sunflowers grow at least 8 feet tall.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
11 May 2026
-
French marigolds offer excellent pest protection, available in both dwarf and full sizes to suit any garden space.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ukraine's air force said in a post to Telegram on Thursday that Russia launched 675 drones and 56 missiles into the country overnight, of which 652 drones and 41 missiles were intercepted or suppressed.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
This not only suppressed uneven vertical phase distribution but also improved film uniformity across the devices.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Its full 360-degree swivel head and extra-scrubby (yet extra-gentle) mopping pads were similarly made with bigger messes in mind.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
29 Apr. 2026
-
That state-specific branding makes room for plants that are mostly (but not 100%) drought-tolerant, and for yards that sport colorful flowers, shrubs and native grasses adapted to Colorado’s climate — as opposed to the decidedly scrubby, gravelly aesthetic associated with the term xeriscaping.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His numbers blew away the competition, though are dwarfed by later generations as league schedules increased.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
From the summit of Monte Gambarogno, the towns hugging the shore of Lake Maggiore appear as tiny specks, dwarfed by the snowcapped southern Alps to the north.—
Lisa Kadane,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Despite their tiny size, the devices delivered some of the strongest efficiencies reported for ultrathin perovskite solar technology.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
-
The kibble is smaller and meant for tiny mouths.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Last year alone, opposition stalled or halted more than $156 billion in planned construction spanning 48 data center projects, according to the research firm Data Center Watch.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
-
Proceedings in the case will likely be halted as the Attorney General’s office petitions the Kansas Court of Appeals to overturn Folsom’s temporary injunction ruling.—
Matthew Kelly
May 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Tesla’s generating puny and declining returns on the plants, inventories and other assets now on its books.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Those nascent data centers were positively puny compared to today’s behemoths.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Another theory suggests regulatory changes in China a few years ago appear to have diminished the availability of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl.—
Mike Stobbe,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
The roles of China and Russia, as Iran’s allies, are strengthened; the role of the United States, substantially diminished.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunted. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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