stumps 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of stump
1
2
as in dares
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat when my grandfather was a kid, he and his friends would stump one another to dive into the local swimming hole

Synonyms & Similar Words

stumps

2 of 2

noun

plural of stump

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 stumps
Verb
Tree stumps can also be carved into garden art or used as a pedestal for a large container or statue. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026 Ann Braunstein lives off of Hutchison Road where branches and stumps line her street as well. — Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 Learn more about why some stumps regrow and how to stop them. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026 Turkey tail grows on dead logs and tree stumps in overlapping layers that resemble a wild bird’s plumage. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026 Or arrange a bunch of tree stumps around a fire pit to create seating that the kids will love. — Jenny Hughes, The Spruce, 25 May 2026 Ancient artifacts found beneath Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as one mystery still stumps researchers. — FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026 David Hogg stumps for Mai Vang in 7th District primary. — Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026 In 1938, Pennington pitched a tent outside the hiring hall for workers building the Shasta Dam, set up some tree stumps for seats and started hawking grub. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumps
Verb
  • My brother looks at the floor, mumbles something, and then shuffles away from the table.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The line shuffles forward quickly, and my heart knots in my chest as Heartfillers are dosed to each person up ahead.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Even an ordinary staircase practically dares you to stare at it long enough to convince yourself something moved.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • There is real hope of a postseason push, with the disgusting state of the American League leaving the door open for any team that dares to play well.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The binder dissolved, allowing the electrode coatings to separate cleanly from their metal foils without leaving residues.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • During the 19th century, factories and processing plants brought raw materials together in unprecedented quantities and consolidated their unwanted residues in the same sites.
    — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Godzilla Minus Zero stomps into theaters in Japan on November 3 and in North America on November 6.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Joined by his crew, Shakur stomps him out before the stunned gamblers and boxing fans.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Jeremy Irons co-stars as Jesuit priest Father Gabriel, who challenges Mendoza to undergo penance.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The league's filing comes as New Jersey challenges a federal appeals court ruling that favored Kalshi's position that federal commodities law overrides state gambling regulations.
    — Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Then the pandemic hit, and an outdoor pint became one of the last vestiges of social life.
    — Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The only vestiges of social order are a vigilante police force and the power company.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • While going through Verity’s files, Lowen stumbles on her memoir, an alleged confession.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • But here, too, Wladyka stumbles, opting for a comforting but pat ending about how dance and art enliven so many lives.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Numerous tornado warnings were also issued for parts of South Carolina and Georgia as the remnants of Isaias move northward and help create supercells of rain and unstable air, according to National Weather Service alerts and forecasts.
    — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The region is still at risk of flash floods as the storm's remnants were expected to continue dumping rain and bringing wind gusts through the weekend, the weather service said, adding that high surf would continue battering coastal communities.
    — Adrian Florido, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumps. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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