stunted
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: 1. Having been prevented from growing or developing to a normal, full, or healthy size: Describes something, typically a plant, animal, or sometimes a person, that is abnormally small or underdeveloped due to adverse conditions. 2. Impaired or restricted in development, progress, or quality: Can describe abstract things like growth, creativity, or potential that have been hindered.
Usage and Examples
- Describing plants or trees:
- The stunted trees near the mountain peak struggled against the strong winds.
- Due to poor soil, the garden produced only stunted vegetables.
- Describing animals or physical growth:
- Malnutrition in childhood can lead to stunted growth.
- Describing abstract development:
- The artist felt her creativity was stunted by the strict rules of the academy.
- A lack of investment has resulted in stunted economic progress for the region.
Advanced Usage
- "to stunt growth/development" (verb phrase): The verb form from which the adjective is derived. It means to hinder or restrict growth or development.
- Example: The drought stunted the growth of the corn crop.
- Figurative Use: Commonly used to describe non-physical limitations.
- Example: His fear of failure stunted his ambition.
Variants and Related Words
- Stunt (verb): To hinder the normal growth, development, or progress of something.
- Example: The accident threatened to stunt his athletic career.
- Stunting (noun): The impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.
- Example: The charity's focus is on reducing childhood stunting.
Synonyms
- Underdeveloped: Not fully grown or developed.
- Dwarfed: Abnormally small (often for plants).
- Scrubby: Small, stunted, or inferior in growth (often for plants).
- Atrophied: Wasted away or diminished, especially from lack of use (can be physical or figurative).
Antonyms
- Luxuriant: Growing thickly and healthily.
- Vigorous: Strong, healthy, and full of energy.
- Fully-developed: Having reached a complete state of growth.
Related Phrases and Concepts
- Stunted growth: A specific medical or biological term for impaired physical development.
- Environmentally stunted: A phrase indicating that adverse environmental conditions caused the lack of growth.
Adjective
- inferior in size or quality
- scrawny cattle
- scrubby cut-over pine
- old stunted thorn trees