stagnating
Going nowhere fast
Stagnating describes a state of not moving, growing, or developing.
Water that is stagnating has stopped flowing and often becomes foul or stale.
The word applies more often to abstractions: a stagnating economy shows no growth, a stagnating career goes nowhere, and stagnating wages fail to keep pace with inflation.
The project has been stagnating for months while we wait for approval.
The implication is always negative—something that should be progressing has come to a standstill.
Growing weak, losing vigor
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
- listlessLacking energy or enthusiasm
- dormantInactive but capable
- inactiveNot currently functioning
passive · sluggish · lethargic · torpid · apathetic · unmotivated · dawdling · procrastinating
No longer fresh
- mustyStale from dampness
- festeringBecoming infected, decaying
- rottingOrganic matter decomposing
- molderingSlowly decomposing over time
putrefying · spoiling · rank · foul · brackish · swampy · fetid · polluted
Total cessation of movement
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- impasseSituation without resolution
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
cessation · moratorium · freeze · suspension · bottleneck · logjam · blockage · paralysis
languishing
Growing weak, losing vigor
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
- listlessLacking energy or enthusiasm
- dormantInactive but capable
inactive · passive · sluggish · lethargic · torpid · apathetic · unmotivated · dawdling · procrastinating · coasting
stale
No longer fresh
moldering · putrefying · spoiling · rank · foul · brackish · swampy · fetid · polluted · fouled
standstill
Total cessation of movement
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- impasseSituation without resolution
stalemate · cessation · moratorium · freeze · suspension · bottleneck · logjam · blockage · paralysis · arrested
- decliningdeclining, waning, fading, diminishing, decreasing
- dawdlingdawdling, dallying, dilly-dallying, lingering, loitering
stagnatingprogressing
Moving toward completion
advancing · growing · flourishing · thriving · developing
stagnatingrefreshing
Pleasingly restorative
renewing · regenerating · revitalizing · rejuvenating · purifying
- wage stagnationPay not increasing over time
- career stagnationLack of job advancement
- economic stagnationPersistent lack of growth