stumps 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of stump
1
2
as in dares
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat when my grandfather was a kid, he and his friends would stump one another to dive into the local swimming hole

Synonyms & Similar Words

stumps

2 of 2

noun

plural of stump

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 stumps
Verb
Ann Braunstein lives off of Hutchison Road where branches and stumps line her street as well. Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 Learn more about why some stumps regrow and how to stop them. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026 Turkey tail grows on dead logs and tree stumps in overlapping layers that resemble a wild bird’s plumage. Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026 Or arrange a bunch of tree stumps around a fire pit to create seating that the kids will love. Jenny Hughes, The Spruce, 25 May 2026 Ancient artifacts found beneath Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as one mystery still stumps researchers. FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026 David Hogg stumps for Mai Vang in 7th District primary. Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026 In 1938, Pennington pitched a tent outside the hiring hall for workers building the Shasta Dam, set up some tree stumps for seats and started hawking grub. Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026 Also, check rocks, stumps or logs before sitting down. Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumps
Verb
  • In the clip, Dawkins shuffles out onto the field with no shirt, a pair of Crocs and a clear plastic bag ready to get the ol' inside-out treatment.
    Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • An exhibition game also shuffles the storylines — some players emerge, others might fade.
    Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Around the novel’s halfway point, one of Harper’s characters dares to change, or try changing, his relationship to the Beast.
    Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
  • It was launched into a highly radioactive patch of low-Earth orbit where almost nothing else dares to fly.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • All trash should be secured in a bag to control odors and keep flies away from food residues.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Traditional dyeing operations consume vast quantities of water and often leave behind wastewater containing chemical residues.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • If anything, the dichotomy between the pop star who prances around Versailles in a sheer nightie and the pop star who stomps onstage in knee-high combat boots feels completely authentic and intentional.
    Chelsey Sanchez, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • Suddenly, the trees part and a Tyrannosaurus rex stomps into view.
    RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • Summary Productivity expert Neal Schore challenges conventional wisdom, arguing that true time loss stems not from poor planning but from internal factors like fear, overthinking, and emotional habits.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In the three-part docuseries (now streaming on Netflix), Berlinger challenges claims that Manson’s motives behind the killings weren’t to start a race war.
    Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The heart-palpitating rhythms and glitchy stutters suggest some unholy mix of early Plastikman and Mark Fell, the vestiges of ’90s dance music reanimated into a herky-jerky Frankenstein’s monster.
    Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The last vestiges of the Jim Harbaugh era have been scrubbed from the football program, which now belongs to Kyle Whittingham.
    Austin Meek, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • Shortly after, a young man stumbles towards Pat from the direction of the pub, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
    Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Mitchell’s own imitation of Spielbergian life, despite its meticulous re-creation (and gleeful destruction) of eighties suburbia, stumbles into an uncanny valley between sincerity and cynicism, between unintentional comedy and deliberate homage.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The remnants of the structure can best be seen from the Bridge of Angels, which leads to Castel Sant’ Angelo near Vatican City.
    Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Archaeologists have uncovered tombs, theaters, baths, stadiums, and other remnants of the city, which was inhabited for more than 1,000 years.
    Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumps. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on stumps

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster