1
as in blocking
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2
as in procrastinating
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in halting
to bring (something) to a standstill
endless complaints stalled the process of selecting the winning design for the memorial
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2
as in dying
to stop functioning
the engine stalls sometimes when it's very cold outside
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Recent Examples of stalling
Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows promised swift action and vowed to brook no more stalling tactics from Democrats.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
Cathy Bussewitz, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
What refineries and traders are willing to pay for oil swings wildly after news breaks about attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf or diplomacy talks stalling.
—Cathy Bussewitz, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Others voiced support for workforce reforms advanced by the Los Angeles Black Worker Center, warning that proposals to modernize hiring and expand access to city jobs risk stalling without action to move them forward.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 2 May 2026
Due to the truck’s location by a ravine near the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area, the recovery of the vehicle and body was reportedly delayed, initially stalling identification of the remains.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
The changes come after several high-profile problems involving autonomous vehicles in San Francisco, including Waymo vehicles stalling and blocking intersections during a blackout in December.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
The veterans have reached a compromise with the administration, stalling the lawsuit for now, with a promise that the administration will follow the legal process to build the arch.
—Emily Guskin, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
The autopsies of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner have not yet been completed, stalling the criminal case against their son Nick, who is charged in the couple’s grisly December 2025 deaths.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
The union has also accused Denver Processing of bad-faith bargaining by repeatedly stalling negotiations, failing to respond to the union’s proposals on key safety and work-life balance issues and declaring a final offer before meaningful bargaining could occur.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The tense talks continued into a second day but concluded without progress, in a diplomatic effort that seemed little more than another stalling game for Putin.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows promised swift action and vowed to brook no more stalling tactics from Democrats.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
What refineries and traders are willing to pay for oil swings wildly after news breaks about attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf or diplomacy talks stalling.
—Cathy Bussewitz, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
What refineries and traders are willing to pay for oil swings wildly after news breaks about attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf or diplomacy talks stalling.
—Cathy Bussewitz, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Others voiced support for workforce reforms advanced by the Los Angeles Black Worker Center, warning that proposals to modernize hiring and expand access to city jobs risk stalling without action to move them forward.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 2 May 2026
Due to the truck’s location by a ravine near the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area, the recovery of the vehicle and body was reportedly delayed, initially stalling identification of the remains.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
The changes come after several high-profile problems involving autonomous vehicles in San Francisco, including Waymo vehicles stalling and blocking intersections during a blackout in December.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
The veterans have reached a compromise with the administration, stalling the lawsuit for now, with a promise that the administration will follow the legal process to build the arch.
—Emily Guskin, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
The autopsies of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner have not yet been completed, stalling the criminal case against their son Nick, who is charged in the couple’s grisly December 2025 deaths.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
The union has also accused Denver Processing of bad-faith bargaining by repeatedly stalling negotiations, failing to respond to the union’s proposals on key safety and work-life balance issues and declaring a final offer before meaningful bargaining could occur.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalling
Adjective
-
The winner was the player who avoided being blocked the longest — a blocking game, a category of strategy game where the objective centers on restricting your opponent’s movement.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Chicago Transit Authority is resuming normal service on the Green Line, after halting service on its western section due to an unauthorized person on the tracks near the Damen stop.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
5 May 2026
-
In an apparent effort to dutifully execute his wishes, DOJ filed a motion demanding that District Judge Richard Leon dissolve his injunction halting the ballroom project.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
One perhaps shouldn’t worry too much about AI being prompted to resurrect a talk-show host, what with the whole format dying anyway.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
-
Gamma rays are the most energetic type of light rays, typically marking the last gasp of a dying star or the cataclysmic clap of two neutron stars.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
The stock has declined nearly 28% in 2026, largely due to concerns over the social media platform’s decelerating year-over-year traffic growth and its sensitivity to macroeconomic conditions.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That led many to believe that, while treatments and crisis care are vital, the goal of suicide prevention needs to expand beyond stopping people from dying to also giving them reasons to live.—
Aneri Pattani,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And yet, this underwhelming sequel reads more like a slow-motion rendering of the exact moment such notoriously cumbersome IP came crashing down on its challenger.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
-
An 18-year-old man died on Sunday after losing control of his car and crashing on Highway 74 in Riverside County, according to the California Highway Patrol.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
And, through it all, stocks have continued to steadily rise, buoyed by hopes for Fed rate cuts, stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and slowing but stubborn confidence that an AI boom might reap big rewards for investors.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Chicago White Sox have been searching for offensive production from the catching position.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Sophomore Nate Roberts is a 6-5, 240-pounder who has blocking experience and showed off versatility catching passes in the spring.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalling. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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