stagnate

[ stag-neyt ]

verb (used without object)

, stag·nat·ed, stag·nat·ing.

1. to cease to run or flow, as water, air, etc.
2. to be or become stale or foul from standing, as a pool of water.
3. to stop developing, growing, progressing, or advancing:

   My mind is stagnating from too much TV.

4. to be or become sluggish and dull:

   When the leading lady left, the show started to stagnate.

verb (used with object)

, stag·nat·ed, stag·nat·ing.

1. to make stagnant.

stagnate

/ stæɡˈneɪt; ˈstæɡˌneɪt /

verb

1. intr to be or to become stagnant

Derived Forms

• stagˈnation, noun

Other Words From

• stag·nation noun
• stag·na·to·ry [stag, -n, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• un·stagnat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stagnate¹

1660–70; < Latin stāgnātus (past participle of stāgnāre ), equivalent to stāgn ( um ) pool of standing water + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Is it any wonder that as labor union membership plummeted, wealth inequality expanded, health care access dwindled, and paychecks stagnated?

From Salon

So, when they’re not eating, things in the digestive tract stagnate.

From Los Angeles Times

Last year — amid a stagnating economy and slackening labor market — it reached record highs.

From Los Angeles Times

Last season, coaches sent Paige down to the scout team after his progress stagnated and it sparked improvement.

From Los Angeles Times

In China over the past few years, a stagnating economy and a cutthroat job market have given rise to an entirely new lexicon to talk about modern-day burnout.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fester
• hibernate
• languish
• stall
• stand still