stunted

[stuhn-tid] / ˈstʌn tɪd /

ADJECTIVE

kept from growing

Synonyms

STRONG

dwarf dwarfed scrub short shot shrimp wee

WEAK

bantam diminutive dwarfish half-pint little measly mite peanut peewee pint-sized runted runtish runty small small-fry tiny undergrown undersized yea big yea high

Antonyms

STRONG

large

WEAK

developing growing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The economy was stunted by abnormally severe winter weather, for one thing.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

If these challenges persist—or spread to other countries— the global economy could be in for a period of higher inflation and stunted growth.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

Matthew Patrick Davis accentuates with a wink the callowness of Joseph II, an emperor who perhaps sees in Mozart a reflection of his own stunted nature.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Is there a class of people with more vaulting self-belief or more stunted self-awareness than America’s journalists?

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

A pair of these birds made a nest in a stunted tree near my house.

From "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell

Vocabulary lists containing stunted

A Long Walk to Water

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Island of the Blue Dolphins

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The Sea of Monsters

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