stalling 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in blocking

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2
as in procrastinating

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Dissimilar Words

stalling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stall
1
as in halting
to bring (something) to a standstill endless complaints stalled the process of selecting the winning design for the memorial

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2
as in dying
to stop functioning the engine stalls sometimes when it's very cold outside

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stalling
Adjective
The tense talks continued into a second day but concluded without progress, in a diplomatic effort that seemed little more than another stalling game for Putin. — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026 Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows promised swift action and vowed to brook no more stalling tactics from Democrats. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Yale sees things differently, and its filings portray Rignol as stalling and evasive. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 Landlords found other ways to circumvent the law, such as pressuring residents into making side payments and stalling paperwork. — Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026 The influx of moisture and that storm system’s stalling front have already produced bands of rain in eastern Tennessee, southern Virginia and northern North Carolina. — Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 23 July 2026 The cost of that approach can balloon quickly, stalling integration efforts as officials grapple with limited funds. — Derek Williams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 Two Boston city councilors are pushing for a change in city law that would require Mayor Michelle Wu to report street projects annually as Wu faces criticism for stalling road work before a city employee was killed by a truck. — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 22 July 2026 In the meantime, Rodríguez has been solidifying her influence in Washington—hiring a lobbyist and cultivating people who might benefit from stalling a transition. — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 Slow play issues on tour are ongoing, with players referencing high-level statistical plans and detailed yardage books during rounds, stalling play. — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 20 July 2026 Penelope remains faithful and rules Ithaca in his absence, cunningly stalling her suitors. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 20 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalling
  1. blocking
  2. decelerating
  3. halting
  4. dying
  5. slowing
  6. stopping
  7. crashing
  8. catching
Adjective
  • The winner was the player who avoided being blocked the longest — a blocking game, a category of strategy game where the objective centers on restricting your opponent’s movement.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of blocking
Adjective
  • The stock has declined nearly 28% in 2026, largely due to concerns over the social media platform’s decelerating year-over-year traffic growth and its sensitivity to macroeconomic conditions.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of decelerating
Verb
  • Under such an approach, negotiations would focus first on halting the production and advancement of nuclear weapons, rather than demanding the dismantlement of North Korea's existing arsenal at the outset.
    — Se Eun Gong, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Mail-in ballots in Kansas will have three days after Election Day to arrive at election offices after the Kansas Court of Appeals upheld an earlier decision halting the new law that would remove the grace period.
    — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Definition of halting
Verb
  • But hundreds of people in the US are still dying from Covid-19 each month.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Measles can be a deadly disease, with two children dying last year after having been infected.
    — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of dying
Adjective
  • And, through it all, stocks have continued to steadily rise, buoyed by hopes for Fed rate cuts, stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and slowing but stubborn confidence that an AI boom might reap big rewards for investors.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Definition of slowing
Verb
  • Nikki Rodriguez’s character might still technically be dating Alex, but that isn’t stopping her from flirting with his brother after confessing her love in the season 2 finale.
    — Kat Pettibone, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The flight originated in El Paso, Texas, after stopping at Opa-locka Executive Airport in Miami-Dade County.
    — Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of stopping
Verb
  • As a Flamengo defender attempted to pass the ball to a teammate, the blue-and-yellow bird dove straight toward him, sending the startled teen crashing to the ground in a panic.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
  • After crashing, the plane caught fire, making any rescue impossible, according to ​Peruvian broadcaster RPP.
    — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of crashing
Verb
  • Former Chicago Police first deputy superintendent Anthony Riccio said catching these riders isn't easy and riders know it.
    — Jermont Terry, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Polizzi, 38, credited regular Pap smears with catching her cancer early and encouraged other women to keep up with their own exams for early detection.
    — Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of catching

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Cite this Entry

“Stalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalling. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stalling

Nglish: Translation of stalling for Spanish Speakers

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