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View synonyms for stunt

stunt

1

[ stuhnt ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to stop, slow down, or hinder the growth or development of; dwarf:

    A harsh climate stunted the trees.

    Brutal treatment in childhood stunted his personality.



noun

  1. a stop or hindrance in growth or development.
  2. arrested development.
  3. a plant or animal hindered from attaining its proper growth.
  4. Plant Pathology. a disease of plants, characterized by a dwarfing or stunting of the plant.

stunt

2

[ stuhnt ]

noun

  1. a performance displaying a person's skill or dexterity, as in athletics; feat:

    an acrobatic stunt.

  2. any remarkable feat performed chiefly to attract attention:

    The kidnapping was said to be a publicity stunt.

verb (used without object)

  1. to do a stunt or stunts.
  2. Television Slang. to add specials, miniseries, etc., to a schedule of programs, especially so as to increase ratings.

verb (used with object)

  1. to use in doing stunts:

    to stunt an airplane.

stunt

1

/ stʌnt /

noun

  1. an acrobatic, dangerous, or spectacular action
  2. an acrobatic or dangerous piece of action in a film or television programme
  3. anything spectacular or unusual done to gain publicity
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. intr to perform a stunt or stunts
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

stunt

2

/ stʌnt /

verb

  1. tr to prevent or impede the growth or development of (a plant, animal, etc)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act or an instance of stunting
  2. a person, animal, or plant that has been stunted
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈstunted, adjective
  • ˈstuntedness, noun
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Other Words From

  • stunting·ly adverb
  • stunty adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stunt1

First recorded in 1575–85; verb use of dialect stunt “dwarfed, stubborn”; cognate with Middle High German stunz, Old Norse stuttr “short”; akin to stint 1

Origin of stunt2

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; origin uncertain; perhaps a variant of stump ( def ) (in the sense “challenge; dare”)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stunt1

C19: US student slang, of unknown origin

Origin of stunt2

C17 (as vb: to check the growth of): perhaps from C15 stont of short duration, from Old English stunt simple, foolish; sense probably influenced by Old Norse stuttr short in stature, dwarfed
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Example Sentences

Because you sent it to my office at midnight and simultaneously released it to the press, I can unfortunately only conclude it is a political stunt.

Before the show, which is in previews, viewers watch a short video in which they are instructed to assemble basic tools they’ll use as Suran performs his confounding stunts.

Buzzard agrees, calling the formalization of perfectoid spaces a “gimmick” — the kind of early stunt that new technologies sometimes perform to demonstrate their worth.

In a tweet Wednesday, Snider called the stunt “moronic,” and shared a video that was recorded by an upset customer inside the Target at Coral Ridge Mall in Fort Lauderdale.

From Fortune

He jumps on his bike, does a few stunts on the balcony, then rolls down the interior stairs.

Mary Elizabeth Williams of Salon labels the show a “crass stunt” on a “bottom-feeding vortex of sadness network.”

Sometimes you have to fly stunt formations with a plane and another guy in a jetpack to really get your kicks.

She maintains that her mattress-carrying stunt is an “art piece,” not a protest.

Admittedly it would be called a stunt, but Obama needs something dramatic to rejuvenate his leadership.

Sadly, Dell was killed five weeks after performing this stunt, fatally injured in a different performance.

Dedmon, here, was out of a job—thanks to you and your meddling—and the steering stunt offered good pay.

He did the 'Great White Way' stunt—the restaurants, the roof gardens, a pretty actress at times, jewels and champagne.

Grayson's doing a stunt to-day that would have driven me mad with envy if I could have stopped to look on.

The stunt did more than earn the boys a large share of fame.

"You try any stunt like that and I'll shoot you," Frank Nelsen promised.

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