as in ends
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 stems
This disease causes misshapen flowers that don’t open fully and strange-looking, thicker, thornier stems that can form red bunches of shoots and foliage on the ends.
—
Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
The revenue boost stems mainly from taxes on high-income residents’ stock gains, which have soared with financial markets on the promise of AI.
—Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
The discomfort stems not from graphic imagery, but from recognition — the realization that contemporary visual culture increasingly conditions audiences through loops of deferred resolution.
—Andrew S. Jacobson, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2026
The jump in food prices stems in part from a historic oil shock set off by the Iran war, which increased diesel costs, some analysts told ABC News.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 May 2026
Be on the lookout for the following seeds and stems at your go-to garden center.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
This low-mounding shade perennial sends up taller, slender stems with airy flower clusters, and the groundcover spreads by slowly creeping rhizomes.
—Judy Nauseef, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Finally, Teo says Ethereal’s success stems in part from sticking to early-stage startups and resisting the temptation to jump on bandwagons.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 4 May 2026
Lilac shrubs also spread through suckers — new stems that sprout from the root system and can crowd out other plants.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
The revenue boost stems mainly from taxes on high-income residents’ stock gains, which have soared with financial markets on the promise of AI.
—Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
The discomfort stems not from graphic imagery, but from recognition — the realization that contemporary visual culture increasingly conditions audiences through loops of deferred resolution.
—Andrew S. Jacobson, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2026
The jump in food prices stems in part from a historic oil shock set off by the Iran war, which increased diesel costs, some analysts told ABC News.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 May 2026
Be on the lookout for the following seeds and stems at your go-to garden center.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
This low-mounding shade perennial sends up taller, slender stems with airy flower clusters, and the groundcover spreads by slowly creeping rhizomes.
—Judy Nauseef, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Finally, Teo says Ethereal’s success stems in part from sticking to early-stage startups and resisting the temptation to jump on bandwagons.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 4 May 2026
Lilac shrubs also spread through suckers — new stems that sprout from the root system and can crowd out other plants.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stems
Verb
-
But Polis, whose final term ends early next year, will also leave office having checked off some issues that have lingered for years.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
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Co-owner Danielle Dore said the move ends 52 years of renting and will bring more seating, a dog-friendly patio and the same all-day breakfast focus.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
15 May 2026
Verb
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As climate change delays the first winter frosts across much of North America, summer ragweed also keeps flowering longer, extending the latter part of pollen season into the fall, said David Wees, a faculty lecturer in horticulture at McGill University in Montreal.—
Keerti Gopal,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
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Copy-on-write is an optimization technique where a system delays making a separate copy of data until it is actually changed.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Verb
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This court order temporarily stops most collection activities, including lawsuits, wage garnishments, bank levies and collection calls.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
The team stops functioning as a unit and starts behaving as a collection of individuals.—
Rick Burton,
Sportico.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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As the federal government halts plans to address climate change, states, cities, regions, and even neighborhoods are trying to fill the gap by cutting climate pollution and adapting to extreme weather.—
Ellis Juhlin,
NPR,
18 May 2026
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But Ho's order now halts that effective date.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Anthropic's Claude Cowork sits on the other end of the spectrum and blocks autonomous purchases at the policy level.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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Jacques blocks them from entering the room, saying that Gil needs her rest.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival kicked off on May 12 and concludes on Saturday.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
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The service concludes with the playing of taps.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stems. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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