stagnant
adjective
stag·nant
ˈstag-nənt 
1
a(1)
: not flowing in a current or stream
stagnant water
(2)
: without inflow and outflow
a stagnant pool
b
: stale
… long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul.—
Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker2
: not advancing or developing
a stagnant economy
stagnantly
adverb
Examples of stagnant in a Sentence
… many people who make their living in academia are reasonably well insulated from financial devastation. For most tenured faculty, the worst they are likely to experience is stagnant pay and deferred retirement.
—Andrew Delbanco, The New York Review of Books, 14 May 2009
"For adults, entertainment needs to be relevant to their life." Chen points to the stagnant US comic book industry as an example of irrelevance. "I don't want to see video games become like American superhero comics," he admits. "American comics live and die based on a very niche audience. In Japan, comics are a national art form."
—Sid Shuman, Gamepro, May 2009
The blue-green algae blooms can occur in both freshwater and saltwater environments, but are most commonly found in stagnant bodies of water enriched by runoff, Paerl said. Public health officials in the southeastern United States are beginning to monitor water supplies for some of the toxins.
—Bridget M. Kuehn, Journal of the American Medical Association, 25 May 2005
Andrew Delbanco, The New York Review of Books, 14 May 2009
"For adults, entertainment needs to be relevant to their life." Chen points to the stagnant US comic book industry as an example of irrelevance. "I don't want to see video games become like American superhero comics," he admits. "American comics live and die based on a very niche audience. In Japan, comics are a national art form."
—Sid Shuman, Gamepro, May 2009
The blue-green algae blooms can occur in both freshwater and saltwater environments, but are most commonly found in stagnant bodies of water enriched by runoff, Paerl said. Public health officials in the southeastern United States are beginning to monitor water supplies for some of the toxins.
—Bridget M. Kuehn, Journal of the American Medical Association, 25 May 2005
Recent Examples on the Web
Shawnee has approved new townhomes and apartments in its downtown and could eye building more housing to breathe life into a long-stagnant entertainment district.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Problems persisted, with the economy stagnant and Cubans still seeking to leave the country.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 21 May 2026
But, he was still wiped out — by medical costs, by stagnant wages during his family-raising years, by a health insurance market that swallowed his savings.
—Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
The crystal-clear water and salty ocean breeze are a far cry from the indoor pool’s stagnant air.
—Hannah Singleton, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stagnant
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Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Problems persisted, with the economy stagnant and Cubans still seeking to leave the country.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 21 May 2026
But, he was still wiped out — by medical costs, by stagnant wages during his family-raising years, by a health insurance market that swallowed his savings.
—Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
The crystal-clear water and salty ocean breeze are a far cry from the indoor pool’s stagnant air.
—Hannah Singleton, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stagnant
Cite this Entry
“Stagnant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagnant. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stagnant
adjective
stag·nant
ˈstag-nənt
1
: not flowing in a current or stream : motionless
2
: not active or brisk
stagnant business
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