stagnant
adjective
stag·nant
ˈstag-nənt 
1
a(1)
: not flowing in a current or stream
stagnant water
(2)
: without inflow and outflow
a stagnant pool
b
: stale
long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul—
Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker2
: not advancing or developing
a stagnant economy
stagnantly
adverb
Examples of stagnant in a Sentence
… many people who make their living in academia are reasonably well insulated from financial devastation. For most tenured faculty, the worst they are likely to experience is stagnant pay and deferred retirement.
—Andrew Delbanco, The New York Review of Books, 14 May 2009
"For adults, entertainment needs to be relevant to their life." Chen points to the stagnant US comic book industry as an example of irrelevance. "I don't want to see video games become like American superhero comics," he admits. "American comics live and die based on a very niche audience. In Japan, comics are a national art form."
—Sid Shuman, Gamepro, May 2009
The blue-green algae blooms can occur in both freshwater and saltwater environments, but are most commonly found in stagnant bodies of water enriched by runoff, Paerl said. Public health officials in the southeastern United States are beginning to monitor water supplies for some of the toxins.
—Bridget M. Kuehn, Journal of the American Medical Association, 25 May 2005
Andrew Delbanco, The New York Review of Books, 14 May 2009
"For adults, entertainment needs to be relevant to their life." Chen points to the stagnant US comic book industry as an example of irrelevance. "I don't want to see video games become like American superhero comics," he admits. "American comics live and die based on a very niche audience. In Japan, comics are a national art form."
—Sid Shuman, Gamepro, May 2009
The blue-green algae blooms can occur in both freshwater and saltwater environments, but are most commonly found in stagnant bodies of water enriched by runoff, Paerl said. Public health officials in the southeastern United States are beginning to monitor water supplies for some of the toxins.
—Bridget M. Kuehn, Journal of the American Medical Association, 25 May 2005
Recent Examples on the Web
Unfortunately, the end product’s indistinct mechanics for its cast—Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Killer Shark, and Deadshot all reduced to interchangeable shooter drones—and stagnant, grind-heavy missions intended to be played on repeat for incrementally better loot resulted in a flop.
—Matt Kamen, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024
In the face of rising cost of living, stagnant wages and job insecurity in the U.S., the sales profession can offer a path for individuals to redefine themselves with the potential to shape a new business class and support the economy.
—Nikolaus Kimla, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Li and Wong knew that fans could work in hot, humid environments because circulating air allows more sweat to evaporate than if the air remained stagnant.
—Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Dec. 2024
Coupled with the rise in dynamic ticket pricing (which fluctuates based on demand), stagnant performance wages, and the skyrocketing cost of travel, accommodations, food, and gas, Nash was in a sinkhole of debt just for doing her job.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stagnant 
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Matt Kamen, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024
In the face of rising cost of living, stagnant wages and job insecurity in the U.S., the sales profession can offer a path for individuals to redefine themselves with the potential to shape a new business class and support the economy.
—Nikolaus Kimla, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Li and Wong knew that fans could work in hot, humid environments because circulating air allows more sweat to evaporate than if the air remained stagnant.
—Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Dec. 2024
Coupled with the rise in dynamic ticket pricing (which fluctuates based on demand), stagnant performance wages, and the skyrocketing cost of travel, accommodations, food, and gas, Nash was in a sinkhole of debt just for doing her job.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stagnant
Dictionary Entries Near stagnant
Cite this Entry
“Stagnant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagnant. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stagnant
adjective
stag·nant
ˈstag-nənt
1
: not flowing in a current or stream : motionless
2
: not active or brisk
stagnant business
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