as in to halt
to stop the progress or spread of (something)
efforts to stem the dramatic decline of an endangered species
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Recent Examples of stem
Cut a slit lengthwise from tip to stem on top side of each poblano; remove and discard seeds and stems.
—
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
Iran protests over collapsing economy spread to universities Iranian authorities offered conciliatory gestures in a bid to stem growing protests over the country’s collapsing economy.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Don’t expect the freezing temperatures to stem her penchant for naked dressing, though.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2026
In addition, critics argue the law does little to stem balloon debris ending up in the Long Island Sound or the state’s other waterways.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stem
Verb
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On Wednesday, a federal judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order to halt the operations.—
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One was a sense of the evils of narcotrafficking; Petro recited a litany of statistics about Colombia’s efforts to halt drug smuggling.—
Verb
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If Takaichi cannot enact the budget by the end of March, her government would have to compile a stop-gap budget, which could delay execution of spending measures.—
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For people with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, delaying or not getting care could be fatal.—
Verb
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Minnesota lawmakers tried to end ICE contracts with counties a few years ago.—
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Four astronauts aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule splashed down early Thursday in the Pacific Ocean, ending a weeklong effort to get an unnamed crew member home to evaluate a medical issue.—
Verb
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Several vehicles that stopped behind her appear to belong to federal agents, based on activity observed in other videos.—
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The prioritization for that new safety should probably be in coverage skills, because Moehrig and Ransom are known more for their run-stopping and tackling prowesses.—
Verb
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North Texas won 27 games and advanced to the semifinals of the NIT to conclude the 2024-25 season.—
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Congress concluded that not all civil-rights crises could be solved by lawsuits, arrests, or federal force.—
Verb
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In the 47-second video, the agent can be seen walking around Good’s maroon Honda Pilot, which is in the middle of the street blocking traffic.—
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
Verb
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The game officials ruled that Gobert impeded Wembanyama's ability to safely land on the follow-through from his jump shot, giving him six flagrant foul points for the season.—
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The city also asks residents not to physically engage with ICE operations and not to throw objects or impede federal law enforcement.—
Verb
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The lawsuit alleges that for more than a decade, beginning at least as early as January 2015, Pepsi and Walmart used their dominant positions in the beverage and grocery markets to suppress price competition.—
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The largest anti-government demonstrations to rock Iran in recent years intensified Friday night, fueling fears of growing fatalities as authorities battle to suppress the protests.—
Cite this Entry
“Stem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stem. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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