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
In such a dense environment, a dark galaxy could arise when the older galaxies pull away star forming material from a younger one, essentially stunting its development.
—
Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunting
Verb
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Broken player economics, including the lack of a salary cap, is suppressing MLB multiples, according to one private equity executive, who declined to speak on the record.—
Luisa Beltran,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The Basij forces are a volunteer paramilitary militia, a branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which Israel says was responsible for violently suppressing street protests against the Iranian government earlier this year.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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An agreement halting the executions of nine Georgia inmates on death row during the coronavirus pandemic shouldn’t keep them alive anymore, the state’s solicitor general argued Wednesday to the Georgia Supreme Court, the AJC’s Rosie Manins reports.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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The measure halting the gradual raises approved by the City Council in 2023 passed in a 30-to-18 vote, leaving its supporters four aldermen short of the supermajority needed to overturn a Johnson veto.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Now, that revenue stream is diminishing, replaced by empty buildings and ideological spite.—
Lance Christensen,
Oc Register,
18 Mar. 2026
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This comes as local officials across Massachusetts hold challenging conversations around potential budget cuts, as diminishing state aid exacerbates growing municipal costs.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The problem is compounded by construction blocking portions of the lanes and delivery vans navigating around barrels to park.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Democrats have twice used the filibuster to shut down the government, blocking funding bills that have majority support.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Leave the resort to dine at Sunset Mona Lisa, a neighboring cliffside terrace where Mediterranean-leaning plates play second fiddle to the show-stopping tangerine-pink sunsets.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
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Arizona's prosecution comes shortly after Kalshi filed preemptive civil actions against Utah, Iowa and the Grand Canyon State in hopes of stopping those states from acting against the platform.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Analysts estimate that the SSA will no longer be able to issue full payments as early as 2034, due to a rising number of retirees and a shrinking workforce.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
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Scientists and researchers warn that climate change is shaping people’s daily life in increasingly extreme ways, from whiplash swings between very wet and very dry seasons to earlier springs, more frequent heat waves and shrinking snowpacks.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That’s roughly the length of a large pickup truck, dwarfing most crocodilian species alive today.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Today, Starbucks has more than 32,000 stores in 80 countries, dwarfing other chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, which has about 14,000 stores globally.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunting. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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