Only a male intellect clouded by the sexual drive could call the stunted, narrow-shouldered, broad-hipped and short-legged sex the fair sex.
Source: tatoeba (678632)
Stunted
Synonyms for "stunted" (124 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (25)
Strong matches (37)
Related words (62)
scantyscraggyscrawnyscrimpscrimpyscrubbyshortshriveledshrunkshrunkensimplisticskimpskimpyslenderslightslimsmallsparesparingspartan
Show 36 more words
squatstarvationstingystintedstraitenedstuntsubsistencethintinytom thumbunblownuncultivateduncultureduncutunderdevelopedundersizeundersizedundevelopedunfashionedunfinishedunformedunhewnunlaboredunlickedunnourishingunnutritiousunpolishedunprocessedunrefineduntreatedunworkedunwroughtwateredwateryweewizened
Adjective(5 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abstemious, arrested, ascetic, austere, backward.
- Sentence evidence is available for stunted, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "stunted".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "stunted"
Keep "stunted" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "stunted" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "stunted", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "stunted" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesagronomic conditioncapabilitydevelopmental impairmentdevelopmental trajectorygrowth conditionhinderplant growth conditionpotentialprogress
More specific
16 entrieseconomic stagnationeducational laggrowth impairmentgrowth retardationproduction bottleneckproject delaystunted creativitystunted economic growthstunted growthstunted growth in cropsstunted heightstunted innovationstunted leaf growthstunted policy progressstunted research progressstunted root growth
Collocations
10 entriesgrowth impairmentgrowth retardationstunted cropsstunted developmentstunted growthstunted heightstunted immune systemstunted metabolismstunted potentialstunted trees
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
5 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
10 total sentences available.
At the age of ten Caroline was stricken with typhus. The disease permanently stunted her growth.
Source: tatoeba (3958898)
Suddenly we looked down into a cup-like depression, patched with stunted oaks and furs which had been twisted and bent by the fury of years of storm. Two high, narrow towers rose over the trees. The driver pointed with his whip. “Baskerville Hall,” said he.
Source: tatoeba (6606617)
I tiptoed down the path and stooped behind the low wall which surrounded the stunted orchard. Creeping in its shadow, I reached a point whence I could look straight through the uncurtained window.
Source: tatoeba (6620766)
Showing 4 of 10 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "stunted"?
Closest matches include abstemious, arrested, ascetic, austere, backward.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "stunted"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.