stunted; stunting; stunts
: to hinder the normal growth, development, or progress of
stuntedness
noun
1
: one (such as an animal) that is stunted
2
: a check in growth
3
: a disease of plants (such as corn) in which dwarfing occurs
1
: an unusual or difficult feat requiring great skill or daring
especially
: one performed or undertaken chiefly to gain attention or publicity
2
: a shifting or switching of the positions by defensive players at the line of scrimmage in football to disrupt the opponent's blocking efforts
Synonyms
Verb (1)
Noun (2)
Examples of stunt in a Sentence
Verb (1)
unfortunately, an unusually dry summer seems to have permanently stunted the tree
Noun (2)
performs mental stunts, such as pronouncing words backwards as soon as you say them
Recent Examples on the Web
Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
As onlookers gawked, took pictures and videos of the stunt, much could be said of the meta recreation and the series’ commentary on surveillance, the nature of work and the interplay of the two in the modern world.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2025
Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
The 24-year-old was someone Howe was desperate to sign in 2022 and, while Tonali’s subsequent 10-month ban has stunted his integration somewhat, the midfielder is now starting to blossom.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stunt 
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Noun
Davis Gates is the lead puppeteer for the union and the mayor and chief antagonist to Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, and her mean-spirited grandstanding is little more than a series of contrived media stunts.
—Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
As onlookers gawked, took pictures and videos of the stunt, much could be said of the meta recreation and the series’ commentary on surveillance, the nature of work and the interplay of the two in the modern world.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
Abnormally dry conditions can stunt crop germination, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
The 24-year-old was someone Howe was desperate to sign in 2022 and, while Tonali’s subsequent 10-month ban has stunted his integration somewhat, the midfielder is now starting to blossom.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stunt
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Dictionary Entries Near stunt
Cite this Entry
“Stunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stunt. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stunt
1 of 3 verb
: to hold back the normal growth, development, or progress of
stunt
2 of 3 noun
: an unusual or difficult feat performed or attempted usually to gain attention or publicity
stunt
3 of 3 verb
: to perform stunts
Etymology
Verb
from a dialect word stunt "stubborn, abrupt, stunted," probably of Scandinavian origin
Noun
origin unknown
Medical Definition
stunt
transitive verb
: to hinder the normal growth, development, or progress of
an emotionally stunted child
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