as in suppressing
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 stunting
Javadi stunting on Langdon with her follower count is my favorite thing ever.
—
Emma Specter, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
If the Mavericks are going to mostly stink in Flagg’s rookie season and perhaps not get much better right away next year, is this stunting his NBA growth in any way?
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 13 Jan. 2026
The officiating team then moved the line of scrimmage to where Dowdle picked the ball up, to force a second-and-17, a drive-stunting turn of events.
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
Roots become dehydrated, and water stress causes stunting, deformities, and dieback.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 29 Dec. 2025
The additional fiber in the whole grains further slows your body's absorption of carbs, stunting blood sugar spikes.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 22 Dec. 2025
Minnesota got him once in the middle of the second quarter by stunting a defensive tackle across his face to create a run-through lane for a linebacker, but Booker otherwise played a pretty clean game, assignment-wise.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
But the commission argues that the war has imposed heavy costs by hiking energy prices and stunting economic growth in the EU, which has already provided nearly 200 billion euros ($235 billion) in support to Ukraine.
—Lorne Cook, Fortune, 13 Dec. 2025
Warning signs include yellowing within a week of infestation, purpling or reddening of leaves, stunting despite adequate moisture, weakening root systems and patchy areas of thinning or dead grass.
—Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Emma Specter, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
If the Mavericks are going to mostly stink in Flagg’s rookie season and perhaps not get much better right away next year, is this stunting his NBA growth in any way?
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 13 Jan. 2026
The officiating team then moved the line of scrimmage to where Dowdle picked the ball up, to force a second-and-17, a drive-stunting turn of events.
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
Roots become dehydrated, and water stress causes stunting, deformities, and dieback.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 29 Dec. 2025
The additional fiber in the whole grains further slows your body's absorption of carbs, stunting blood sugar spikes.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 22 Dec. 2025
Minnesota got him once in the middle of the second quarter by stunting a defensive tackle across his face to create a run-through lane for a linebacker, but Booker otherwise played a pretty clean game, assignment-wise.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
But the commission argues that the war has imposed heavy costs by hiking energy prices and stunting economic growth in the EU, which has already provided nearly 200 billion euros ($235 billion) in support to Ukraine.
—Lorne Cook, Fortune, 13 Dec. 2025
Warning signs include yellowing within a week of infestation, purpling or reddening of leaves, stunting despite adequate moisture, weakening root systems and patchy areas of thinning or dead grass.
—Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunting
Verb
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The big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton, for example, uses ice-bath plunges to rehearse suppressing panic and practice self-calming.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
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But Vance’s false accusations at last year’s conference – that Europe is suppressing freedom of speech and democracy, and facing civilizational decline – are now enshrined in US national security strategy.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the meantime, the plaintiffs want a temporary restraining order halting further development of Beall’s property.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Gage Lattimore scored 21 points and North Carolina Central beat Morgan State 80-76 on Monday night, halting the Bears' six-game winning streak.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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All there is to do, sometimes, is know in your heart of hearts that a nuanced piece of literature and a provocative and deviant piece of pop culture can exist alongside each other without one diminishing the other.—
Pamela Avila,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
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The airport’s current name is widely recognized and respected, and altering it would only create confusion while diminishing the local identity.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to neurologist and lifestyle medicine physician Lynette Gogol, DO, DipABLM, caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain that are involved in inflammation and communication between nerve cells.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
20 Feb. 2026
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In Marvel Oreo canon, three packs of the legend cookies made it to stores but Marvel villains were blocking the fourth pack's way.—
Rin Velasco,
The Providence Journal,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When stopping roadside, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
For years, the staunchest border hawks and hard-liners justified their positions in terms of stopping unlawful immigration.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Industrial push The race to perfect robots and automate is part of Beijing’s sweeping push to upgrade the country’s manufacturing capabilities and defend its position as the world’s factory floor in a new era of high tech, rising labor costs and a shrinking workforce.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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When snowpack runs low, the effects ripple months later — shrinking reservoirs, stressed supplies, and tougher water decisions as temperatures rise.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The buildings look like giant warehouses, some dwarfing the footprints of factories and stadiums.—
Marc Levy,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
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By Tuesday morning, Monday’s show had racked up nearly three million views on Rumble, dwarfing the figures for Owens’s and Fuentes’s competing episodes on the platform.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunting. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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