stills

verb

present tense third-person singular of still
1
as in stops
to bring (something) to a standstill it seemed as though nothing could still the fighting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in calms
to free from distress or disturbance reading a book helps me to relax and still my mind before going to bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shushes
to stop the noise or speech of the conversation was abruptly stilled by a loud crash from the next room

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 stills And stills the curiosity, communication, and debate on which any self-aware democracy depends. — Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stills
  1. stops
  2. calms
  3. shushes
  4. stalls
  5. composes
  6. silences
  7. catches
  8. soothes
Verb
  • The metalpoint tool sometimes slips or skitters; the fountain pen sometimes stops working—though, deprived of vision, the artist is unaware, and keeps drawing the now-invisible line.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • There’s a tender, surprising moment of reconciliation in the novel’s final pages — the place where story stops.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of stops
Verb
  • Niacinamide — a multi-functional ingredient that strengthens the skin barrier, regulates oil production, and calms and fades discoloration — is also in the mix.
    — Claudia Fisher, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Tight styles aren’t just something to avoid until your scalp calms down—they’re worth limiting as an ongoing precaution.
    — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of calms
Verb
  • Before the chatter can continue, Sharon Leone (Diane Farr), the Cal Fire Division Chief and mother of Bode Leone (Max Thieriot), quickly shushes everyone and reminds them to focus.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
Definition of shushes
Verb
  • That's more often what stalls things than any of the concerns above.
    — Benjamin Faes, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • This process stalls improvements for years.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of stalls
Verb
  • The man composes his responses with the help of a manual that instructs him on which incoming string of Chinese characters should be answered with which other string of Chinese characters.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Agent authority composes dynamically.
    — Harsh Singhal, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Definition of composes
Verb
  • The 42mm transducer system pumps out breathtaking dynamic range, while Adaptive Noise Cancellation effortlessly silences noisy dorm halls and busy coffee shops.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This fails to mention that partisan gerrymandering silences the voices of the voters in the district who deserve representation, especially voters from underrepresented groups that are disproportionately affected by these efforts.
    — Reese Ritter, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of silences
Verb
  • The hefty cod and haddock catches from the chilled Arctic waters around Iceland are central to the national identity too.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Put simply, when banks sneeze, the rest of the financial system catches pneumonia.
    — Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of catches
Verb
  • Anything that soothes that, or gives them more-than-human capacities—that’s just unhelpful to them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This Loops x Dune mist is so refreshing— an instant burst of coolness that also soothes and rehydrates my skin without disrupting my makeup.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of soothes

Browse Nearby Words

stillness
stills
stilly
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Cite this Entry

“Stills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stills. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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