1
as in blocking
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in procrastinating
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in halting
to bring (something) to a standstill
endless complaints stalled the process of selecting the winning design for the memorial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dying
to stop functioning
the engine stalls sometimes when it's very cold outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 stalling
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows promised swift action and vowed to brook no more stalling tactics from Democrats.
—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
19 Aug. 2025
Mary Ilyushina,
Washington Post,
30 June 2026
The consumer pitch is the loud one, but Herbert thinks the bigger market is enterprise, where the same problem is stalling AI rollouts.
—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Some lawmakers say the Pennsylvania State Senate is stalling on a bill to increase the state's minimum wage.
—
Ross Guidotti,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
The campaign, which Zelenskyy has said aims to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, has choked Russian fuel supplies and military deliveries, stalling Moscow’s efforts on the battlefield and heaping pressure on Putin, Western officials and analysts say.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
Its success has caused fuel shortages and disrupted army supply lines, stalling Moscow’s full-scale invasion after more than four years of fighting.
—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
Thune’s chamber has particularly struggled with the SAVE America Act, with the sweeping election bill stalling in the Senate.
—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
24 June 2026
Bates County officials said the aircraft failed to reach full power before stalling and crashing near Interstate 49 Business.
—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Iran has historically failed to follow through on promises, instead simply stalling and buying time.
—
Las Vegas Review-Journal,
Twin Cities,
18 June 2026
Adjective
The tense talks continued into a second day but concluded without progress, in a diplomatic effort that seemed little more than another stalling game for Putin.
—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows promised swift action and vowed to brook no more stalling tactics from Democrats.
—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Russia’s war in Ukraine is stalling — on the battlefield and in the corridors of diplomacy.
—
Mary Ilyushina,
Washington Post,
30 June 2026
The consumer pitch is the loud one, but Herbert thinks the bigger market is enterprise, where the same problem is stalling AI rollouts.
—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Some lawmakers say the Pennsylvania State Senate is stalling on a bill to increase the state's minimum wage.
—
Ross Guidotti,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
The campaign, which Zelenskyy has said aims to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, has choked Russian fuel supplies and military deliveries, stalling Moscow’s efforts on the battlefield and heaping pressure on Putin, Western officials and analysts say.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
Its success has caused fuel shortages and disrupted army supply lines, stalling Moscow’s full-scale invasion after more than four years of fighting.
—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
Thune’s chamber has particularly struggled with the SAVE America Act, with the sweeping election bill stalling in the Senate.
—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
24 June 2026
Bates County officials said the aircraft failed to reach full power before stalling and crashing near Interstate 49 Business.
—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Iran has historically failed to follow through on promises, instead simply stalling and buying time.
—
Las Vegas Review-Journal,
Twin Cities,
18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalling
Adjective
-
The winner was the player who avoided being blocked the longest — a blocking game, a category of strategy game where the objective centers on restricting your opponent’s movement.
Adjective
-
The stock has declined nearly 28% in 2026, largely due to concerns over the social media platform’s decelerating year-over-year traffic growth and its sensitivity to macroeconomic conditions.
Verb
-
On Friday, Russian authorities in Crimea announced a state of emergency after halting all fuel sales to civilians in response to Ukrainian attacks earlier in the week.
-
It was also reworded to clarify Apollo is not halting all redemption requests.
Verb
-
As long as the idea remains that property gets its purpose from those tending it, working it, nourishing it and dying on it, the film will never become a relic.
-
Late in Denis’ second Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman) season, the Isles included Jean in a trade with the dying Cleveland Barons.
Adjective
-
And, through it all, stocks have continued to steadily rise, buoyed by hopes for Fed rate cuts, stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and slowing but stubborn confidence that an AI boom might reap big rewards for investors.
Verb
-
Technology led to the suspect's arrest Officers obtained doorbell camera footage, which showed a silver SUV stopping along a curb on Majors Choice Drive.
-
Its compact size and functional interior and exterior pockets will make zipping through airport security or stopping for gas on road trips a breeze — no more digging through disorganized totes to locate your wallet and phone.
Verb
-
They were taken into custody after crashing into a police squad car.
-
More than 40,000 Colombian fans were expected at the match and this time, nobody was crashing through the gates without tickets, as thousands did for the 2024 Copa America final against Argentina.
Verb
-
But this year, the city is catching a little guff over an apparent oversight.
-
And that job is made all the more difficult when catching for two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who holds himself and his teammates to very high standards.
Cite this Entry
“Stalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalling. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
