as in dwarf
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in suppressed
to hold back the normal growth of
unfortunately, an unusually dry summer seems to have permanently stunted the tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 stunted
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
Copper deficiencies in soil can lead to plants suffering from stunted growth and yellowing leaves, and being more vulnerable to fungal diseases and pests.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
If grown together, neither of these plants may thrive, which may result in stunted growth.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 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Even when expansion approvals are greenlit by people in power — which has been difficult enough for Waymo — they can be rescinded when support in hyperlocal jurisdictions appears stunted.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
But the show features a standout performance from a young Alan Ritchson as Thadd Castle, the athletically gifted and socially stunted team captain, and fans of his Reacher performance will enjoy seeing the actor revel in his first major role.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Feb. 2026
Brendan Marks, New York Times, 26 Feb. 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
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
Copper deficiencies in soil can lead to plants suffering from stunted growth and yellowing leaves, and being more vulnerable to fungal diseases and pests.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
If grown together, neither of these plants may thrive, which may result in stunted growth.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 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
But the show features a standout performance from a young Alan Ritchson as Thadd Castle, the athletically gifted and socially stunted team captain, and fans of his Reacher performance will enjoy seeing the actor revel in his first major role.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
Sarr then stunted on Lendeborg to force the ball out of his hands, before Sarr and Boozer nailed the late-possession perimeter switch.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 26 Feb. 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
-
For smaller yards, consider dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties, such as the disease-resistant Baldwin apple.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
22 Feb. 2026
-
These dwarf galaxies provide a unique laboratory for studying black hole formation and early evolution, thanks to their relatively quiet merger histories compared to those of massive galaxies.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On Tuesday, Ukraine's air force said Russia had launched 133 drones and one ballistic missile into the country overnight, of which 111 drones were shot down or suppressed.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Yas calls Harper to feed her the bogus story that Lisa Dearn suppressed a memo that would have endangered Tender’s application with the banking regulator.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 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
-
In 1930, the 1,450 front-line Prohibition agents dwarfed the 350 FBI field agents across the country.—
Richard F. Hamm,
The Conversation,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Historically, and certainly since the turn of the century, their budgets have dwarfed those of every other Scottish team.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Even his tiny coffin was draped with a union jack.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The four treatment rooms look onto a tiny garden, and there's a 24-hour Technogym with full free weights, plus private studios for yoga and Pilates.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Jason Brown, Fair Park First’s board chair, said that without a contract, Fair Park First has halted spending toward its next steps.—
Aria Jones,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Labor strikes halted printing a few times in the 1950s and ’60s.—
Audrey McAvoy,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Steve Rogers grows up in Brooklyn as a puny but resolute child.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
-
In comparison, Mars has only a tenuous atmosphere and small patches of a puny magnetic field.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After 50, this step becomes especially important because the skin’s ability to hold onto moisture has diminished.—
Allison Palmer
Updated February 25,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
But his joke during the phone call about also having to invite the women and the subsequent laughter from the men, which was captured on video and circulated widely on social media, set off a firestorm of criticism, with many expressing frustration that the joke diminished the women's achievement.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunted. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
