stagnant

adjective

stag·nant ˈstag-nənt

Synonyms of stagnant

a(1)

: not flowing in a current or stream

stagnant water

(2)

: without inflow and outflow

a stagnant pool

: stale

… long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul.—Bram Stoker

: not advancing or developing

a stagnant economy

stagnancy

ˈstag-nən(t)-sē

noun

stagnantly adverb

Examples of stagnant in a Sentence

… many people who make their living in academia are reasonably well insulated from financial devastation. For most tenured faculty, the worst they are likely to experience is stagnant pay and deferred retirement. —Andrew Delbanco, The New York Review of Books, 14 May 2009

"For adults, entertainment needs to be relevant to their life." Chen points to the stagnant US comic book industry as an example of irrelevance. "I don't want to see video games become like American superhero comics," he admits. "American comics live and die based on a very niche audience. In Japan, comics are a national art form." —Sid Shuman, Gamepro, May 2009

The blue-green algae blooms can occur in both freshwater and saltwater environments, but are most commonly found in stagnant bodies of water enriched by runoff, Paerl said. Public health officials in the southeastern United States are beginning to monitor water supplies for some of the toxins. —Bridget M. Kuehn, Journal of the American Medical Association, 25 May 2005

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Plus, transforming swift rivers into stagnant reservoirs alters downstream water temperatures, sediment flow, and oxygen levels, destroying the delicate habitats native fish depend on to survive. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026 The Texas Education Agency took over Fort Worth ISD after years of stagnant academic performance. — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Aug. 2026 The front lines of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are largely stagnant. — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026 In 2025-2026, CREC magnet schools cut positions and programs to mitigate a $7 million deficit due to stagnant state funding and a 42% tuition cap. — Leonard Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stagnant

Word History

Etymology

see stagnate

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler

The first known use of stagnant was in 1610

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

stagnancy

stagnant

stagnate

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Stagnant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagnant. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stagnant

adjective

stag·nant ˈstag-nənt

: not flowing in a current or stream : motionless

: not active or brisk

stagnant business

stagnant

adjective

Examples of stagnant in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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