stable 1 of 3

1
as in sturdy
marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion the observation tower is stable enough to withstand the strongest winds without collapsing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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stable

2 of 3

noun

stable

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stable are durable, lasting, and permanent. While all these words mean "enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established," stable implies lastingness because of resistance to being overturned or displaced.

a stable government

When might durable be a better fit than stable?

The synonyms durable and stable are sometimes interchangeable, but durable implies power to resist destructive agencies.

durable fabrics

When is it sensible to use lasting instead of stable?

The words lasting and stable can be used in similar contexts, but lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely.

a book that left a lasting impression on me

When would permanent be a good substitute for stable?

While the synonyms permanent and stable are close in meaning, permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely.

permanent living arrangements

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 stable
Adjective
This independence is intended to allow the Fed to focus on its dual mandate: promoting maximum employment and maintaining stable prices. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025 Alternatively, for a more stable path than owning individual stocks like JNJ, explore the High Quality portfolio, which has consistently outpaced the S&P and generated over 91% returns since its inception. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
With the closing of the Pleasanton stables, they are forced to relocate with the 10 horses in their care to Seattle’s Emerald Downs track, like many other trainers. Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025 Alongside a host of vineyards, Seven Oaks offers arable farmland, horse stables, and a zero-edge pool set against a mountain view. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
The horse stables on the property were also reduced to a smoldering pile, though staff were fortunately able to evacuate all of the animals in advance. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025 Their turn-of-the century stables at Fort Myer are also being renovated. Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stable
Adjective
  • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • It’s entirely made of cotton that has been coated with polyvinyl to create a sturdy material with the look of pebbled leather, which is as water-resistant and stain-repellent as hide.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Municipal bonds, which are backed by state and local governments, are generally seen as one of the safer fixed income assets.
    Jesse Pound, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Investors accept that smaller fixed payment because a portion of the bond proceeds is allocated to bitcoin, which may rise in purchasing power over the term.
    Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Such intimidation may be normal in Putin's Russia, not in the civilized world!
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Seeing the color Olo needed specific stimulation to push the vision beyond its normal limits.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Once the ball moved into more central areas, Lindsey Heaps homed in on it like a heat-seeking missile, putting constant pressure on Kim Little, forcing the Scot back in a way that rarely happens in WSL matches.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • While the console and games will see their prices remain constant, the company is changing the prices for many accessories and has not ruled out future adjustments.
    Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The book identifies a host of factors that have thwarted global environmental cooperation, including the Western world’s neoliberal economic ideology, failures to distribute the burdens of adaptation, dysfunctional international institutions, and weak global norms of multilateral problem solving.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Usually enriched with peptides, hyaluronic acid, or a host of butters and oils, these deeply nourish one’s pout.
    María Munsuri, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As the world looks more toward environmentally conscious solutions, solar has been on the forefront of many people’s minds—from greener businesses to home solar paneling.
    Jason Phillips, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
  • How can home health employees restore a sense of well-being for their clients in an environment where every familiar touchpoint is gone?
    Josh Klein, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • In the last two weeks, Trump issued an executive order directing agencies to sunset every existing energy regulation by next year and, in a separate memorandum, said those agencies may repeal certain regulations without allowing the public to weigh in.
    Nichola Groom and Valerie Volcovici, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The new rule wouldn’t apply to one-time or emergency spending, and certain expenditures would be excluded from the cap.
    Nolan McKendry | The Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stable. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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