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
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
Mia Wasikowska also appears as Naim’s emotionally stunted mother, joined by Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie and Davida McKenzie.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Damage includes stunted, yellow, or wilted leaves and loss of flower buds.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
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
Niantic Spatial’s Visual Positioning System, or VPS, solves a problem that has quietly stunted the autonomous delivery industry.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Items from the archives have dominated the red carpet in the last couple years, as a slew of creative director changes stunted the showcase of new designs.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2026
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
Adjective
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
Mia Wasikowska also appears as Naim’s emotionally stunted mother, joined by Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie and Davida McKenzie.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Damage includes stunted, yellow, or wilted leaves and loss of flower buds.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
Niantic Spatial’s Visual Positioning System, or VPS, solves a problem that has quietly stunted the autonomous delivery industry.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Items from the archives have dominated the red carpet in the last couple years, as a slew of creative director changes stunted the showcase of new designs.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunted
Adjective
-
This semi-dwarf agapanthus sparkles with clusters of violet-blue flowers atop sturdy stems that make excellent cuttings.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The bond between the dwarf calf and the aging horse blossomed over the following months.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This not only suppressed uneven vertical phase distribution but also improved film uniformity across the devices.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
-
Ukraine's air force said in a post to Telegram that Russia launched 108 drones and three missiles into the country overnight, of which 89 drones were intercepted or suppressed.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
6 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
-
Something about the slightly sticky, scrubby texture of a dryer sheet makes quick work of dusting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
With tens of millions of dollars already spent on TV ads, Democrats have dwarfed Republicans in fundraising so far.—
Russell Berman,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
One new study looked at how the coloring of microplastics – the tiny bits of plastics found everywhere from our rivers to our brains – may actually be helping increase temperatures.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
The lab didn't take DNA samples from each fish, which can be done by clipping off a tiny bit of one fin.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
More commonly, prescribed burning is halted because Forest Service staff are occupied fighting wildfires.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
4 May 2026
-
But while a subsequent ceasefire has largely halted fighting in Iran, Washington and Tehran remain unable to agree to a more secure peace.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
4 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
-
The unlikely union lasted 10 years and the mutual admiration between the two famed figures never diminished.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
While the immediate flood threat has diminished, rain is expected to persist along the Mid-Atlantic coast.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunted. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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