stagnates

USAGE SUMMARY

"stagnates" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where something stops developing or progressing. Example: "The economy stagnates when there is a lack of investment." Alternative expressions include "comes to a standstill" and "remains static."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Italy is back in recession and approaching deflation; Germany's economy has shrunk and France stagnates.

The Guardian - Opinion

To use a scientific analogy, if you leave something alone too long then it stagnates and creates infection.

The Guardian

The fact that Britain has seen two years of relatively strong economic growth, while continental Europe stagnates, is a more obvious pull factor for the quarter of a million people who immigrated to Britain from elsewhere in the European Union in the year to September 2014.

The Economist

But when negotiations stop, the WTO itself stagnates.

The Economist

Meanwhile, quality stagnates, teachers lack morale, teaching is by rote and pupils graduate without basic skills.

The Economist

But today it stagnates, its GDP per head perhaps $4,000, against some $14,000 in the south.

The Economist

Better infrastructure and education in the more urbanised north mean that the benefits of Mexico's membership of the North American Free-Trade Agreement have accrued there, while income in the south stagnates because of low productivity.Yet not all is gloom in the south.

The Economist

The best and the brightest young Europeans may emigrate to countries without such burdens; and if the economy stagnates, those that remain may eventually decide either to default on their debts, or to cut benefits to the elderly.

The Economist

And foreign sales are bound to fall again as America stagnates and a two-speed Europe converges on a single, slower pace.Falling export orders was one of the complaints voiced by Chinese manufacturers in a preliminary survey of purchasing managers published by HSBC last week.

The Economist

It is a place where corruption flourishes and the economy stagnates.

The Economist

Spanish lenders have already set aside €105 billion in provisions for bad loans, but more will be needed if the economy stagnates.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stagnates" specifically when you want to emphasize a lack of flow or progress in systems that are naturally meant to move, such as economies, water, or personal growth.

Common error

Avoid using "stagnates" when an adjective is required. For instance, do not say "The water is stagnates"; use "stagnant" for the state and "stagnates" only as the action.

Linguistic Context

The word "stagnates" serves as a third-person singular present indicative verb. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to denote a state of inactivity or a failure to progress. It typically acts as the predicate in sentences where the subject is a collective noun or an abstract concept, such as an economy or a market.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "stagnates" is a highly effective verb used to describe a lack of movement or progress. Ludwig AI shows that it is a staple of economic and political reporting, frequently used by prestigious outlets like The Economist and The New York Times to describe markets or policies that have stopped growing. It is also found in scientific contexts, such as describing the behavior of fluids or glaciers. When using it, remember that it implies a failure to move forward rather than a downward trend. If you need a more dramatic or clinical term, consider "flatlines", but for general professional and formal writing, "stagnates" remains the gold standard for expressing stagnation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flatlines

more clinical or dramatic, suggesting a complete lack of vital signs or movement

remains static

more descriptive and neutral, emphasizing the lack of change

stalls

implies a sudden stop or loss of momentum rather than a prolonged period of inactivity

stands still

a common idiom that emphasizes the lack of physical or metaphorical movement

plateaus

suggests reaching a high level and then staying there rather than simply failing to move

ceases to grow

focuses specifically on the end of development or expansion

languishes

carries a more emotional or negative weight, implying suffering due to neglect

becomes dormant

suggests a temporary state of inactivity with the potential to wake up later

slumps

implies a decline or drop rather than just staying in one place

idles

often used for machinery or engines running without moving forward

FAQs

How to use "stagnates" in a sentence?

The word "stagnates" is used to describe something that stops developing or flowing. For example, "The economy "stagnates" when consumer spending drops".

What can I say instead of "stagnates"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "flatlines", "stalls", or "remains static".

Is "stagnates" used for people or just things?

It is most commonly used for abstract concepts like economies or physical things like water, but it can also describe a person's career or personal growth if it "ceases to develop".

What is the difference between "stagnates" and "declines"?

If something "declines", it is getting worse or going down; if it "stagnates", it simply stays the same and fails to progress.