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Some common synonyms of stem<\/em> are arise<\/em><\/a>, derive<\/em><\/a>, emanate<\/em><\/a>, flow<\/em><\/a>, issue<\/em><\/a>, originate<\/em><\/a>, proceed<\/em><\/a>, rise<\/em><\/a>, and spring<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"to come up or out of something into existence,\" stem<\/em> implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.<\/p>

\/\/ industries stemming<\/em> from space research<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How are the words 'arise' and 'rise' related as synonyms of 'stem'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Arise<\/em><\/a> and rise<\/em><\/a> may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise<\/em> often stresses gradual growth or ascent.<\/p>

\/\/ new questions have arisen<\/em><\/p>

\/\/ slowly rose<\/em> to prominence<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'derive' be used instead of 'stem'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words derive<\/em><\/a> and stem<\/em> are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, derive<\/em> implies a prior existence in another form.<\/p>

\/\/ the holiday derives<\/em> from an ancient Roman feast<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'emanate' instead of 'stem'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words emanate<\/em><\/a> and stem<\/em> have much in common, emanate<\/em> applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.<\/p>

\/\/ reports emanating<\/em> from the capital<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do 'flow' and 'spring' relate to one another, in the sense of 'stem'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Flow<\/em><\/a> adds to spring<\/em><\/a> a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.<\/p>

\/\/ words flowed<\/em> easily from her pen<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'issue' take the place of 'stem'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words issue<\/em><\/a> and stem<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, issue<\/em> suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.<\/p>

\/\/ blood issued<\/em> from the cut<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'originate' be a good substitute for 'stem'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The meanings of originate<\/em><\/a> and stem<\/em> largely overlap; however, originate<\/em> implies a definite source or starting point.<\/p>

\/\/ the fire originated<\/em> in the basement<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'proceed' be a better fit than 'stem'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words proceed<\/em><\/a> and stem<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but proceed<\/em> stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.<\/p>

\/\/ advice that proceeds<\/em> from the best of intentions<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'spring' a more appropriate choice than 'stem'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms spring<\/em><\/a> and stem<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but spring<\/em> implies rapid or sudden emerging.<\/p>

\/\/ an idea that springs<\/em> to mind<\/p>" } } ] }

stem

verb

Definition of stemnext
as in to halt
to stop the progress or spread of (something) efforts to stem the dramatic decline of an endangered species

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb stem differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of stem are arise, derive, emanate, flow, issue, originate, proceed, rise, and spring. While all these words mean "to come up or out of something into existence," stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

How are the words arise and rise related as synonyms of stem?

Arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen
slowly rose to prominence

When can derive be used instead of stem?

The words derive and stem are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

When is it sensible to use emanate instead of stem?

Although the words emanate and stem have much in common, emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

How do flow and spring relate to one another, in the sense of stem?

Flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

In what contexts can issue take the place of stem?

In some situations, the words issue and stem are roughly equivalent. However, issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

When would originate be a good substitute for stem?

The meanings of originate and stem largely overlap; however, originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

When might proceed be a better fit than stem?

The words proceed and stem can be used in similar contexts, but proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

When is spring a more appropriate choice than stem?

The synonyms spring and stem are sometimes interchangeable, but spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

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 stem For larger blooms on main branches, remove side shoots and stems growing at odd angles. —Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026 Fossils of early land plants, such as Cooksonia, date back to about 430 million years ago and show small branching stems only an inch or two tall. —Erin Potter, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026 To store fresh dill leaves, wrap the cut dill stems loosely in a damp paper towel and store it in a resealable bag in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026 Cutting stems back by one-third their height will help plants resist flopping under the weight of the flowers. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stem
  1. halt
  2. delay
  3. end
  4. stop
  5. conclude
  6. block
  7. impede
  8. suppress
Verb
  • The Mapletree Global Student Accommodation Private Trust, almost three years after halting regular payments to investors, finally came to an end on March 16, according to documents seen by Bloomberg News.
    — Low De Wei, Bloomberg, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Ubel says some were holding out for lower prices this spring, only to see the price of the most common nitrogen fertilizer, urea, spike close to 30% when Iran shut down shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, halting close to half the world's fertilizer trade.
    — Frank Morris, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of halt
Verb
  • Under the modification, the General Dynamics subsidiary will aim to address supplier network bottlenecks that have delayed the delivery of the first submarine in the next-generation 12-vessel fleet of nuclear submarines.
    — Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2026
  • This delayed his feeding and cost us many peanuts.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s also jointly ended their partnership in July 2025 after finding the venture financially unsustainable, leading to over $50 million in charges for the doughnut company.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Copper fell along with other base metals as investors monitored the uncertainty surrounding US-Iran negotiations to possibly end the war.
    — Bloomberg, Bloomberg, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of end
Verb
  • Her 15-year-old son can be heard in the background pleading with his mom and the officer to stop.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Mason McTavish and Troy Terry also scored for the Ducks, while John Carlson had three assists and Lukas Dostal stopped 27 shots.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of stop
Verb
  • Some questions may be adapted into full columns, and transcripts of the chats remain available after each session concludes.
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The statement concluded by asking for privacy for the family.
    — Dan Heching, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • Late Thursday night into early Friday morning, residents in several neighborhoods in Havana took to the streets, banging pots and pans and, in some cases, lighting bonfires to block major roads in the capital — a sign of escalating frustration.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Another federal judge in Boston on Monday temporarily blocked several of Kennedy's vaccine policy changes.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of block
Verb
  • What personal demons will impede the hunt for a killer?
    — Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Among other things, the plaintiffs argue ingress via Billings Road should not be impeded or limited to La Cantera residents.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of impede
Verb
  • Although Nigeria was temporarily suspended from the Commonwealth group of nations, the oil industry continued its operations, and federal governments continued to misappropriate their share of the revenues and violently suppress protests.
    — Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
  • This structural scaling suppressed unwanted charge trapping and leakage currents, ensuring the chip remains electronically stable even under intense, high-dose gamma exposure.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of suppress

Phrases Containing stem

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stellar
stem
stemmed
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Cite this Entry

“Stem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stem. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stem

Nglish: Translation of stem for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stem

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