STUNTED Synonyms: 188 Similar and Opposite Words

stunted 1 of 2

adjective

as in dwarf

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

stunted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of stunt

as in suppressed

to hold back the normal growth of unfortunately, an unusually dry summer seems to have permanently stunted the tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of stunted

Adjective

Still, the emotionally stunted John claims not to harbor ill feelings toward Hal, though this is most certainly challenged by the end of the episode. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 There were no fences or other land-ownership demarcations on the steep slope covered by grass, stunted junipers, and large rocks. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026 Doctors who reviewed her death records said her stunted growth would have been obvious earlier in childhood, when her tumor could have been diagnosed and treated. — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 Plzeňský Prazdroj, the country’s largest beer producer, expects to incur losses this year due to a stunted hops yield. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 Once the roots are crowded, the showy parts of the plants will suffer from fewer blooms and stunted growth. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2026 Without these nutrients, optimal brain growth can be stunted. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 There’s this concept in [pop] psychology, where the age where someone might become famous or rich is thought to be where their mind is stunted, at that age. — Ivie Ani, VIBE.com, 30 July 2026 And trimming too much of this plant can make the tree appear stunted or uneven. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026

Verb

On Saturday, after a fourth-down false start penalty stunted the Rams’ first drive, Bennett threw his two best passes of the game during the next one. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026 Just a few hours from the Arctic Ocean, the exercise helps the Miami native narrow his view to suit a world stunted by extreme cold. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 At 6-months-old, she was diagnosed with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that gradually took away her vision, stunted her growth and caused joint and muscle pain. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 VanSumeren played both positions with the Eagles over three seasons, although injuries have stunted his evolution. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 July 2026 This lack of competition has stunted the organizational capacity of both the Democratic and Republican Parties, rendering them hollow and unable to cultivate, train, or support a pipeline of young candidates. — Peter Gosselin, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 There were high hopes for the 2024 Big East Conference Player of the Year when former general manager Monte McNair drafted Carter, but his growth was stunted by a shoulder injury and a logjam in Sacramento’s backcourt. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026 The rap has certainly stunted the price of the stock. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 14 June 2026 Hannah is recovering from a traumatic event at high school that’s stunted her ability to write songs, putting her scholarship at risk. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stunted

Adjective

Bare-root fruit trees that produce fruit the fastest are typically dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 28 July 2026
Look for citrus varieties grafted onto dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock so the citrus tree stays small and doesn’t need to be pruned or re-potted as often.

— Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2026

Definition of dwarf

Verb

When women tried to march for their rights, they were violently suppressed, and by 2023, nearly all those in Afghan jails were political prisoners, and many were tortured.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
Hong Kong's independent bookstores, many of them tucked away from busy streets inside buildings, have long offered a refuge and a window to a freer world for some mainland Chinese readers seeking ideas suppressed at home.

— KANIS LEUNG, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of suppressed

Adjective

There were seven of us American bird hunters overlooking a scrubby flat in Argentina’s Santiago Del Estero Province.

— Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026
Other worthy state parks to check out include Seabranch Preserve State Park, where there are six miles of hiking and biking trails that take visitors through sand pine scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and a mangrove swamp, and Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park, a great spot for birding.

— Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 16 June 2026

Definition of scrubby

Verb

In 2025, the total jumped to at least 39 arrests, and that number is dwarfed by at least 77 detentions at airports just in July of 2026.

— Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Although the ivory shipment was reported to be the biggest ever at Quy Nhơn, it has been dwarfed by several others in the last decade of more than 7 tons each in the central port city of Da Nang and the northern port of Haiphong.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of dwarfed

Adjective

The Moon’s awkward angle to Venus this morning may bring tiny mismatches around timing, mood, or social plans, but nothing needs to become a big deal.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
One such collection of it-narratives survives in the form of the tiny manuscript books authored by children associated with the prominent New England Hale family.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of tiny

Verb

Today, a federal court halted it before this administration could wreak havoc on our elections.

— Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
The near miss raised questions about why the commercial flight was cleared for takeoff while Marine One was preparing to depart, a period when airline traffic is typically halted around presidential helicopter operations.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of halted

Adjective

To achieve a similar impact, Johnson appears to be wearing a muscular silicone suit over his 6-foot-5 frame, but the extra padding just makes his head look puny.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
For example, in another suit litigating the effects of social media on children, a jury settled in March on the comparatively puny figure of $6 million, distributed between Meta and YouTube.

— David B Mcgarry, Oc Register, 8 July 2026

Definition of puny

Browse Nearby Words

stunt

stunted

stunting

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Stunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stunted. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of stunted

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes