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
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
Most recently, the Of The ESSENCE Digital Cover star has been stunting in head-turning looks throughout her press tour for her upcoming film You, Me & Tuscany, out on April 10.
—Akili King, Essence, 1 Apr. 2026
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
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
Most recently, the Of The ESSENCE Digital Cover star has been stunting in head-turning looks throughout her press tour for her upcoming film You, Me & Tuscany, out on April 10.
—Akili King, Essence, 1 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunting
Verb
-
The drug has already taught the field that powerfully suppressing this key cancer driver actually works.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
By suppressing appetite, the body can direct more energy toward the immune response.—
Jasna Hodžić,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What was clear was that progress toward a universal theory of ultrafinitism has been halting in part because there has been no one clear motivation for the movement, or any singular approach to deciding what its underlying logic should look like.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Blue Owl was among the poster children of this phenomenon, halting quarterly redemptions in OBDC II in mid-February, and opting instead to return capital periodically through portfolio asset sales.—
Leslie Picker,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fans’ attachment is largely to the kids, who aren’t kids anymore, and ’80s nostalgia, which is a diminishing resource.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The densest areas fragment first, diminishing further in size.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Wild were without defenseman Jonas Brodin for the first time in the playoffs after he was injured blocking a shot in the second period of Game 5 in Dallas.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
1 May 2026
-
Among his proposals is to reform the California Environmental Quality Act to enable only government prosecutors to sue, thus blocking the ability of private individuals and organizations to stop or delay new housing development.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
That led many to believe that, while treatments and crisis care are vital, the goal of suicide prevention needs to expand beyond stopping people from dying to also giving them reasons to live.—
Aneri Pattani,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hospitals also have struggled for decades with Medicaid rates that cover an ever-shrinking share of the cost of treating poor patients.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Software headcount is shrinking.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The 16-team league set a record with 87 selections, dwarfing the previous record the SEC set last year with 79.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Stunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunting. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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