stunt1
/stʌnt
/verb [with object]
Prevent from growing or developing properly: some weeds produce chemicals that stunt the plant’s growth figurative the recovery of our industries is stunted by lack of funds (as adjective stunted) an emotionally stunted young woman...
- So even if a smoker does develop stunted growth, respiratory conditions or Lung Cancer at least they won?
- Affected children usually have stunted physical growth, as well as irreparably retarded mental development.
- Many of the children also have stunted growth and become mentally retarded.
Synonyms
inhibit, impede, hamper, hinder, restrict, retard, slow, curb, arrest, check, stop
small, little, tiny, undersized, undersize, diminutive, dwarf, dwarfish, pygmy;
baby;
Scottish wee
Derivatives
stuntedness
- Spiritual stuntedness is characterised by disconnectedness, alienation and meaninglessness.
- Due to the stuntedness of several coconut plantations there is a lot of bad quality timber on the market at the moment.
- Physical deprivation, unlike emotional stuntedness, is an empirical problem like disaster or war that can be addressed - is best addressed - by government.
Origin
Late 16th century (in the sense 'bring to an abrupt halt'): from dialect stunt 'foolish, stubborn', of Germanic origin; perhaps related to stump.
Rhymes
stunt2
/stʌnt/noun
1An action displaying spectacular skill and daring: the stunt involved jumping out of a hot-air balloon while attached to a piece of elastic [as modifier]: the display is by some of the world’s top stunt fliers...
- The spectacular stunts of a top military motorcycle display team took centre stage at the annual Army Open Day in York.
- If you enjoy car chases, spectacular stunts, fighting, first-person shooting games without much thinking and strategy, then this is your game.
- Spectacular aerial stunts and jumps seem slightly out of place.
Synonyms
feat, exploit, trick, antic, caper;
coup, act, action, deed;
French tour de force
1.1Something unusual done to attract attention: the story was spread as a publicity stunt to help sell books...
- However, association president Phillip Reid says the announcement is a stunt to attract more publicity to the service and justify its cost.
- Naturally, the first thing I thought was that this was a publicity stunt to gain attention.
- They are participating in a publicity stunt to draw attention to Anglicare's Winter Appeal.
verb [no object]
Perform stunts, especially aerobatics: agile terns are stunting over the water
Origin
Late 19th century (originally US college slang): of unknown origin.