stunt
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
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a stop or hindrance in growth or development.
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arrested development.
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a plant or animal hindered from attaining its proper growth.
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Plant Pathology. a disease of plants, characterized by a dwarfing or stunting of the plant.
noun
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a performance displaying a person's skill or dexterity, as in athletics; feat.
an acrobatic stunt.
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any remarkable feat performed chiefly to attract attention.
The kidnapping was said to be a publicity stunt.
verb (used without object)
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to do a stunt or stunts.
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Television Slang. to add specials, miniseries, etc., to a schedule of programs, especially so as to increase ratings.
verb (used with object)
noun
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an acrobatic, dangerous, or spectacular action
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an acrobatic or dangerous piece of action in a film or television programme
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anything spectacular or unusual done to gain publicity
verb
verb
noun
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the act or an instance of stunting
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a person, animal, or plant that has been stunted
Other Word Forms
- stunted adjective
- stuntedness noun
- stuntingly adverb
- stunty adjective
Etymology
Origin of stunt1
First recorded in 1575–85; verb use of dialect stunt “dwarfed, stubborn”; cognate with Middle High German stunz, Old Norse stuttr “short”; akin to stint 1
Origin of stunt2
An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; origin uncertain; perhaps a variant of stump ( def. ) (in the sense “challenge; dare”)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After it had been viewed by more than 12 million people, Tkachuk indicated the stunt annoyed him.
From Los Angeles Times
Surniak still has a day job, working as a stunt and intimacy coordinator on theatrical and Hollywood productions.
From Los Angeles Times
The only thing more mortifying than a shameless stunt fight is knowing you’re shameless enough to watch it.
Time will tell if the Burger King exec’s outreach is seen more as a publicity stunt, or if it’s really about listening to customers and learning from them.
From MarketWatch
Most of the population lost weight, and a 2020 report found that 13% of children under the age of 5 were stunted.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
