Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense stunts, present participle stunting, past tense, past participle stunted
1. countable noun
A stunt is something interesting that is done in order to attract attention and get publicity for the person or company responsible for it.
In a bold promotional stunt for the movie, he smashed his car into a passing truck.
2. countable noun
A stunt is a dangerous and exciting piece of action in a film.
In his new film he performs his own stunts.
3. verb
If something stunts the growth or development of a person or thing, it prevents it from growing or developing as much as it should.
The heart condition had stunted his growth a bit. [VERB noun]
High interest rates have stunted economic growth. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: hamper, restrict, curb, slow down More Synonyms of stunt
stuntedadjective
Damage may result in stunted growth and sometimes death of the plant.
...low stunted trees.
Synonyms: undersized, dwarfed, little, small More Synonyms of stunt
4.
See pull a stunt
More Synonyms of stunt
stunt in British English1
(stʌnt)
verb
1. (transitive)
to prevent or impede the growth or development of (a plant, animal, etc)
noun
2.
the act or an instance of stunting
3.
a person, animal, or plant that has been stunted
Derived forms
stunted (ˈstunted)
adjective
stuntedness (ˈstuntedness)
noun
Word origin
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
stunt in British English2
(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
verb
4. (intransitive)
to perform a stunt or stunts
Word origin
C19: US student slang, of unknown origin
stunt in American English1
(stʌnt)
US
noun
1.
a display of skill or daring; feat; trick
2.
something done for a thrill, to attract attention, etc.
3. US, American Football
any of various maneuvers involving different sets of defensive players, usually used to confuse the blockers while blitzing the quarterback
verb intransitive
4.
to perform a stunt or stunts
stunt in American English2
(stʌnt)
verb transitive
1.
to check the growth or development of; dwarf
2.
to hinder (growth or development)
noun
3.
the act or process of stunting or dwarfing
4.
a stunted creature or thing
5.
any of various plant diseases causing stunting
Word origin
< dial., short and thick, stunted < ME, dull, stupid (with sense infl. by ON stuttr, short) < OE < IE *(s)teud- < base *(s)teu-, to strike > stock
Examples of 'stunt' in a sentence
stunt
This could be only a cheap publicity stunt.
The Sun (2011)
Spectacular stunts and a great cast make this another strong instalment in the franchise.
The Sun (2016)
The gadgets can perform a few stunts in their own right.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Last week he was reduced to stunts in car parks in a bid to drum up support.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The censor criticised the movie as a promotional stunt.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Is this the sort of thing a stunt man could help with?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They also gave her high doses of oestrogen to stunt her growth.
The Sun (2007)
Now very few actors do their own film stunts.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The researchers blame the acrobatic stunts that modern cheerleading demands.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The hearing lasted only a day and was considered by many to be a publicity stunt.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
One laughing bunch are seen performing the stunt dressed as bananas.
The Sun (2013)
The fish suffered stunted growth and also stopped avoiding predators.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Hollywood has long employed body doubles to do the dangerous physical stunts for actors.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The disease stunts the plant 's growth and reduces yields.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Maybe we should get a stunt guy '.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Fantastic facts, cinematic secrets and unforgettable demonstrations of the science behind fireworks and movie stunts.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
See spectacular stunts Look to the skies at midday.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It's the stunts that get me.
The Sun (2013)
The action comes thick and fast - especially when it comes to car stunts.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Her stunt may be incredibly silly, but it clearly works.
The Sun (2016)
There's a lot of great action scenes, stunts and fights.
The Sun (2016)
The film was launched with some inspired, and surreal, promotional stunts.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It follows legal action by a stunt man who suffered brain injuries filming scenes for the movie, in Bangkok.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
stunt
British English: stunt /stʌnt/ NOUN
A stunt is something interesting that someone does to get attention or publicity.
She turned her wedding into a publicity stunt.
American English: stunt
Arabic: عَمَلٌ جَرِئٌ وَ مُثِير
Brazilian Portuguese: façanha
Chinese: 惊险动作
Croatian: senzacija
Czech: akrobatický kousek
Danish: stunt
Dutch: stunt
European Spanish: acrobacia
Finnish: temppu
French: cascade film
German: Stunt
Greek: ακροβατικό
Italian: acrobazia
Japanese: 離れわざ
Korean: 아슬아슬한 연기
Norwegian: stunt
Polish: wyczyn
European Portuguese: façanha
Romanian: scamatorie
Russian: трюк
Latin American Spanish: acrobacia
Swedish: konststycke
Thai: สิ่งที่ทำให้ผู้คนสนใจ
Turkish: dublör
Ukrainian: трюк
Vietnamese: sự kiện gây chú ý
All related terms of 'stunt'
stunt man
A stunt man is a man whose job is to do dangerous things, either for publicity , or in a film instead of an actor so that the actor does not risk being injured .
stunt flier
someone who performs stunts in an aeroplane , such as special turns , etc, in the air
stunt kite
a kite held by two hands and having two lines
stunt woman
A stunt woman is a woman whose job is to do dangerous things, either for publicity , or in a film instead of an actor so that the actor does not risk being injured .
stunt double
someone who performs dangerous stunts in a film in place of an actor
stunt flying
the activity or practice of performing stunts in an aeroplane , such as special turns , etc, in the air
publicity stunt
something done to attract publicity
pull a stunt
If someone pulls a stunt , they do something silly or risky .
stuntwoman
a woman who habitually performs acrobatic, dangerous , or spectacular actions
stuntwomen
a woman who habitually performs acrobatic, dangerous , or spectacular actions
Chinese translation of 'stunt'
stunt
(stʌnt)
n(c)
(in film) 惊(驚)险(險)动(動)作 (jīngxiǎn dòngzuò)
(= publicity stunt) 噱头(頭) (xuétóu)
vt
[growth, development]阻碍(礙) ... 的正常发(發)育 (zǔ'ài ... de zhèngcháng fāyù)
(verb)
Definition
to prevent or slow down (the growth or development of a plant, animal, or person)
The heart condition has stunted his growth a bit.
Synonyms
hamper
I was hampered by a lack of information.
restrict
The shoulder straps restrict movement.
curb
He must learn to curb that temper of his.
slow down
hold up
interfere with
hinder
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
impede
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
(noun)
Definition
anything spectacular or unusual done to gain publicity
a bold promotional stunt
Synonyms
feat
an incredible feat of agility
act
My insurance covers acts of sabotage.
trick
He shows me card tricks.
exploit
His wartime exploits were made into a TV series.
deed
His heroic deeds were celebrated in every corner of the country.
tour de force (French)
gest (archaic)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of act
Definition
something done
My insurance covers acts of sabotage.
Synonyms
deed,
action,
step,
performance,
operation,
doing,
move,
blow,
achievement,
stroke,
undertaking,
exploit,
execution,
feat,
accomplishment,
exertion
in the sense of curb
Definition
to control or restrain
He must learn to curb that temper of his.
Synonyms
restrain,
control,
check,
contain,
restrict,
moderate,
suppress,
inhibit,
subdue,
hinder,
repress,
constrain,
retard,
impede,
muzzle,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
keep a tight rein on
in the sense of deed
Definition
a notable achievement
His heroic deeds were celebrated in every corner of the country.
Synonyms
action,
act,
performance,
achievement,
exploit,
feat
Nearby words of
stunt
stunned
stunner
stunning
stunt
stunted
stupefaction
stupefy
Synonyms of 'stunt'
stunt
Explore 'stunt' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of exploit
Definition
a notable deed or feat
His wartime exploits were made into a TV series.
Synonyms
feat,
act,
achievement,
enterprise,
adventure,
stunt,
deed,
accomplishment,
attainment,
escapade
in the sense of hinder
Definition
to get in the way of (someone or something)
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
Synonyms
obstruct,
stop,
check,
block,
prevent,
arrest,
delay,
oppose,
frustrate,
handicap,
interrupt,
slow down,
deter,
hamstring,
hamper,
thwart,
retard,
impede,
hobble,
stymie,
encumber,
throw a spanner in the works,
trammel,
hold up or back
in the sense of impede
Definition
to block or make progress or action difficult
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
Synonyms
hinder,
stop,
slow (down),
check,
bar,
block,
delay,
hold up,
brake,
disrupt,
curb,
restrain,
hamper,
thwart,
clog,
obstruct,
retard,
encumber,
cumber,
throw a spanner in the works of (British, informal)