stagnate

verb

stag·​nate ˈstag-ˌnāt How to pronounce stagnate (audio)
stagnated; stagnating

intransitive verb

: to become or remain stagnant

Examples of stagnate in a Sentence

a puddle of stagnating water
Recent Examples on the Web One assumption of the new wave of apologias for liberalism is that, to keep attracting adherents, the stagnating ideology must be recast as a spiritual enterprise, or a personal therapy, or a grand and invigorating project. Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 3 July 2024 With roster movement stagnating over the past three seasons, there are 17 roster spots that could be opened this winter. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2024 The share of global foreign exchange reserves held in renminbi has stagnated, staying under three percent. Eswar Prasad, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024 Meanwhile, those on the other end of the income spectrum have seen their wealth stagnate, at best, or decline at worst. 401(k)s vs. Roths Though 401(k)s get a lot of the love from the financial press and advisors, Americans hold far more of their total retirement assets in individual accounts. Byalicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 14 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for stagnate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stagnate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin stagnatus, past participle of stagnare, from stagnum body of standing water

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stagnate was in 1661

Dictionary Entries Near stagnate

Cite this Entry

“Stagnate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagnate. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

stagnate

verb
stag·​nate ˈstag-ˌnāt How to pronounce stagnate (audio)
stagnated; stagnating
: to be or become stagnant
stagnation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on stagnate

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