stable 1 of 3

Definition of stablenext
1
as in sturdy
marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion the observation tower is stable enough to withstand the strongest winds without collapsing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

stable

2 of 3

noun

stable

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stable are durable, lasting, and permanent. While all these words mean "enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established," stable implies lastingness because of resistance to being overturned or displaced.

a stable government

When might durable be a better fit than stable?

The synonyms durable and stable are sometimes interchangeable, but durable implies power to resist destructive agencies.

durable fabrics

When is it sensible to use lasting instead of stable?

The words lasting and stable can be used in similar contexts, but lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely.

a book that left a lasting impression on me

When would permanent be a good substitute for stable?

While the synonyms permanent and stable are close in meaning, permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely.

permanent living arrangements

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 stable
Adjective
Medics rushed her to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital in critical but stable condition. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026 The suspect was taken to a hospital and was stable at last check. — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
The owners also have Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens in their stable but Lucknam Park is a resolutely English country pad. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 The closing brings to an end a year-long saga over who would control two century-old movie studios along with a pedigreed stable of TV studios, streaming services and networks including HBO and CNN. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
Experience, leadership, someone that can stable (sic) the vote. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026 But in its fourth year, the Bahrain Turf Series — under the stewardship of Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa — has opened up an easy pathway for international horses to compete, especially from UK stables more accustomed to grass than dirt. — Camilla Wright, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stable
Adjective
  • Denim is a sturdy cotton textile that is woven in a twill pattern, creating a distinctive diagonal rib on the fabric’s surface.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Carrying a large pump spray bottle and a small, sturdy brush, Caitlin Abrams stood before two starkly contrasting graves in a modest cemetery in western Vermont.
    — Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Every transformer on the grid—from the cylinders perched on utility lines to the big spiky devices at substations—trades voltage for current at a fixed ratio.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • For seniors living on a fixed income, those costs can quickly add up.
    — Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 19 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • It's shot up from less than $97 at the start of the month on uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global energy industry to return to normal.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Menopause is the normal part of a woman’s aging process that marks the end of her reproductive years.
    — Lyndon Haviland, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Because the switching happens thousands of times a second, the device can hold voltage steady, absorb a disturbance or operate in reverse, pushing power backward from batteries toward the grid.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • What everyday movements reveal Standing from a chair requires a stable base, enough ankle and hip mobility to shift your weight forward, lower body and core strength to lift yourself, and balance to keep you steady.
    — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Many hosts ask for the same thing just to get the party started.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Vance left a positive impression on his RJC audience while stopping short of disavowing influential conservative podcast host Tucker Carlson.
    — Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Tail Town works with Kitten Rescue Los Angeles to home adoptable cats.
    — Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • As a result, Rodriguez has an opportunity to home again tonight after doing so last night.
    — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Adjective
  • Policymakers recognized that American companies needed a stronger reason to invest in innovation.
    — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Meta Platforms, which is pushing its Muse AI agent, lost 7% after reporting stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell short.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • People with the second phenotype, called durable, might have grown up in a predictable world—for example, a strict religious sect or just a family that experienced little change—and developed only certain coping strategies as a result.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Whether the 6-foot-9, 240-pound former Purdue forward actually enters the game is less certain.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stable. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster