stagnate

[stag-neyt]

verb (used without object)

stagnated, stagnating 

1. to cease to run or flow, as water, air, etc.

2. to be or become stale or foul from standing, as a pool of water.

3. to stop developing, growing, progressing, or advancing.

   My mind is stagnating from too much TV.

4. to be or become sluggish and dull.

   When the leading lady left, the show started to stagnate.

verb (used with object)

stagnated, stagnating 

1. to make stagnant.

stagnate

/ stæɡˈneɪt, ˈstæɡˌneɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to be or to become stagnant

Other Word Forms

• stagnation noun
• stagnatory adjective
• unstagnating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stagnate¹

1660–70; < Latin stāgnātus (past participle of stāgnāre ), equivalent to stāgn ( um ) pool of standing water + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Many ordinary Indonesians criticize the government for primarily serving the interests of the wealthy elite even as youth unemployment soars and wages stagnate.

From Los Angeles Times

The U.S. is in a housing crisis; rents keep rising while incomes stagnate or fall.

From Salon

For decades, the economy of the region stretching south of the Tehachapi range stagnated.

From Los Angeles Times

Now we find a region that has begun to stagnate as fires continue to pound on its doors and its residents are questioning their future and safety there, all the while fighting rising prices.

From Los Angeles Times

Life expectancy, probably the best surrogate for quality of life, has stagnated as well, while other countries have improved: The U.S. is now 55th in life expectancy, behind Panama and Albania.

From Salon

Related Words

• fester 
• hibernate 
• languish 
• stall 
• stand still www.thesaurus.com