as in recession
a lack of activity or development and especially economic development
After years of economic stagnation, employment numbers began to rise.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 stagnation
In modern sports, the line separating stability and stagnation is difficult for the eye to detect.
—
Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
When circulation is blocked, liquidity dries up, stagnation sets in, and economic depression can follow.
—Jeff Mayhugh, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The protests, driven by dissatisfaction at Iran's economic stagnation and galloping hyperinflation, began Sunday in Tehran's largest mobile phone market, where shopkeepers shuttered their businesses.
—CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
Not only that, Apple must prove to investors that AI can generate meaningful sales growth after years of post-pandemic stagnation.
—Steve Kovach, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagnation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagnation
Noun
-
Meanwhile, there was more buzz about a recession and job cuts in October that have been the highest in 22 years.—
-
Selling out a popular venue like The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on a windy Wednesday night in the middle of a daunting recession ain’t easy.—
Noun
-
Namestnikov ended a 29-game goal drought, while Toews halted a 26-game scoring slump.—
-
Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images BEIJING — Chinese policymakers may be finally warming to the idea of tackling the country’s worsening real estate slump, raising expectations that stronger support measures could be coming later this year.—
Noun
-
And on a more basic level, gardening activities also serve to reduce anxiety, aggression and depression, and to increase cognitive function.—
-
Feeling tired is not a typical sign of high blood pressure and is more often linked to other issues like poor sleep, depression, or low blood pressure.—
Cite this Entry
“Stagnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagnation. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share