as in suppressing
to hold back the normal growth of
unfortunately, an unusually dry summer seems to have permanently stunted the tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of stunting
From stunting and weakening plant growth to delaying flower production, these 1/10th-inch-long pests can wreak havoc.
—
Abby Monteil,
The Spruce,
12 June 2026
Negotiations were shelved, leading to an impasse and stunting Wilson’s development, who was recovering from keyhole ankle surgery which was worse than first thought.
—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
The evidence In addition to animal research, there are a handful of preliminary studies in humans suggesting colostrum may improve certain forms of inflammatory bowel syndrome, gastroenteritis, and upper respiratory tract infections, as well as stunting in children.
—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
1 June 2026
Sunflowers contain allelopathic compounds in all of their tissues that can impact nearby plants, reducing seed germination and stunting the growth of roots and shoots.
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
Bond yields around the world are rising, a spooky development that could easily weigh on economic growth by stunting consumer spending and capital investment.
—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
22 May 2026
The good news is that growing garlic near tomatoes can protect the harvest and keep pests from stunting the growth of your plants.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
If the winds don't blow or are light, sea breezes develop, stunting any warming, especially close to the coast.
—
Terry Eliasen,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Jokic dropped his right shoulder into Wembanyama, spun away from a stunting second defender on his left pivot foot, then planted his right at the elbow for take-off.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Abby Monteil,
The Spruce,
12 June 2026
Negotiations were shelved, leading to an impasse and stunting Wilson’s development, who was recovering from keyhole ankle surgery which was worse than first thought.
—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
The evidence In addition to animal research, there are a handful of preliminary studies in humans suggesting colostrum may improve certain forms of inflammatory bowel syndrome, gastroenteritis, and upper respiratory tract infections, as well as stunting in children.
—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
1 June 2026
Sunflowers contain allelopathic compounds in all of their tissues that can impact nearby plants, reducing seed germination and stunting the growth of roots and shoots.
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
Bond yields around the world are rising, a spooky development that could easily weigh on economic growth by stunting consumer spending and capital investment.
—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
22 May 2026
The good news is that growing garlic near tomatoes can protect the harvest and keep pests from stunting the growth of your plants.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
If the winds don't blow or are light, sea breezes develop, stunting any warming, especially close to the coast.
—
Terry Eliasen,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Jokic dropped his right shoulder into Wembanyama, spun away from a stunting second defender on his left pivot foot, then planted his right at the elbow for take-off.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunting
Verb
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The migrating dust can move from the African desert more than 5,000 miles westward over the Atlantic and is known for suppressing rainfall and conditions that support hurricanes.
-
At a status hearing Wednesday, an attorney for defendant Charles Green argued in favor of suppressing some of the evidence in the case.
Verb
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On Friday, Russian authorities in Crimea announced a state of emergency after halting all fuel sales to civilians in response to Ukrainian attacks earlier in the week.
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It was also reworded to clarify Apollo is not halting all redemption requests.
Verb
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While professionals still seek performance upgrades, consumers increasingly view MacBooks as durable household appliances, diminishing the traditional annual upgrade cycle.
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While Doral, Sweetwater, Tamiami and other areas near the fires did not see evacuations, officials warned air quality was diminishing due to the smoke, which could have caused health issues for some residents.
Verb
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Instead, opt for a more secure purse like this anti-theft messenger bag, which has a zipper at the top, locking compartments, slash-resistant material, and RFID-blocking panels.
-
Charred chunks of foam have been floating from the burn site, partially blocking storm drains.
Verb
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And the heat’s not stopping anytime soon.
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Video shows how chase led to deadly crash Instead of stopping, the purple car accelerated and sped through a red light, according to video from Joel’s dashboard camera.
Verb
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Block cut more than 4,000 jobs in February, shrinking its workforce from over 10,000 to just under 6,000.
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Part of Exemplar’s plan to focus more on luxury involves shrinking its footprint, going from around 170 stores last year to just 49 now.
Verb
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At Next Health, the high-dose IV runs $1,000, dwarfing the standard $199 drip on the same page.
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Fireworks, an enormous Ferris wheel dwarfing the Capitol dome, a proud white father directing his wife and daughter into the crowd and the future.
Cite this Entry
“Stunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunting. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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