stable 1 of 3

1
as in sturdy
marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion the observation tower is stable enough to withstand the strongest winds without collapsing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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stable

2 of 3

noun

stable

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stable are durable, lasting, and permanent. While all these words mean "enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established," stable implies lastingness because of resistance to being overturned or displaced.

a stable government

When might durable be a better fit than stable?

The synonyms durable and stable are sometimes interchangeable, but durable implies power to resist destructive agencies.

durable fabrics

When is it sensible to use lasting instead of stable?

The words lasting and stable can be used in similar contexts, but lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely.

a book that left a lasting impression on me

When would permanent be a good substitute for stable?

While the synonyms permanent and stable are close in meaning, permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely.

permanent living arrangements

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 stable
Adjective
Eleven people were killed and 33 others were injured, Siddaramaiah said, adding that most of the injured were stable and receiving treatment in hospitals. Aijaz Rahi, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025 Driven by a cultural expectation to pursue a financially stable and lucrative career, like law or medicine, Service moved to the United States to attend law school. J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
Noun
These animals were housed in crowded stables, transported in train cars across the country and shipped overseas. John Drake, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 The firm often watches companies for many years before investing and has an extensive stable of impressive board candidates. Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 10 May 2025
Verb
The pumphouse campus once had a machine shop, storehouse, carriage house and stables and a brick-making kiln. Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2025 But the horse stables, in some way, were maybe even more impressive. The Editors Of Ad, Architectural Digest, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stable
Adjective
  • Uwharrie National Forest About 1 hour and 15 minutes from Charlotte Pack sunscreen, bug spray, sturdy walking shoes, and lots of water and snacks for a day trip to Uwharrie National Forest—one of four national forests in North Carolina—and the Badin Lake Recreation Area.
    Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 7 June 2025
  • Yet while hiring generally has slowed, other economists figured job growth remained sturdy last month as companies frustrated by labor shortages during the pandemic continued to curtail layoffs.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • This is the result of having a very fixed mindset towards love and relationships.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • The Uber vehicle will travel along a fixed route, and other riders may join the trip.
    Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Most kids use pacifiers—and up to a certain point, that's totally normal.
    ​Wendy Wisner, Parents, 29 May 2025
  • In a revealing interview on Insight With Chris Van Vliet, Omos detailed his journey from assuming his rapid growth was normal to facing a critical health crisis.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • During the two-hour baseball game — and the pre-show, and the pre-pre-show, and the pre-pre-pre-show — the music and activity is constant.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 June 2025
  • In today’s entrepreneurial landscape, where uncertainty is constant and speed is critical, small business owners need to choose consultants carefully.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • The tribute will feature performances from previous host, Bow Wow, as well as Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya, T.I., and more.
    Paul Grein, Billboard, 28 May 2025
  • Virginia Tech researchers made this discovery after comparing the genomes of two distinct lineages of bed bugs – one that is suspected to have hitched a ride on a Neanderthal thousands of years ago, and another that stuck with its bat host.
    Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • From Italy to France to Bali to Puerto Rico Mexico to home in California, these sandals have provided great support while still working for a ton of different destinations and experiences.
    Samantha Leal, StyleCaster, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The output rotates continuously, requires no calibration or homing on boot-up, and contains a thru-bore for easy daisy-chaining of wiring.
    Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 12 July 2019
Adjective
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • The court also ordered the Trump administration to remove the tariffs within 10 days, including a 25% tariff on certain goods from Canada and Mexico.
    Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 May 2025
  • Citing his mission as one of fiscal discipline, Musk has led the DOGE effort to eliminate certain federal offices, slash regulations and rapidly cut down the federal workforce, while reprogramming or removing some government websites, software and systems.
    Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 28 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stable. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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