stunt
stunt
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) spelling for stunt is $/stʌnt/$.
It is a single-syllable word. Its sounds are broken down as:
/s/: The 's' sound, as in "sun"
/t/: The 't' sound, as in "top"
/ʌ/: The 'uh' vowel sound, as in "bug"
/n/: The 'n' sound, as in "net"
/t/: The final 't' sound, as in "cat"
Word Form Variations
Singular (Noun) / Base (Verb): stunt
Plural (Noun) / 3rd Person Singular (Verb): stunts
Past Tense / Past Participle (Verb): stunted
Present Participle (Verb): stunting
Adjective: stunted (meaning underdeveloped or having had its growth checked)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A dangerous, difficult, or impressive feat of skill, often performed for entertainment or display.
Synonyms: feat, trick, exploit, maneuver, performance
Antonyms: basic, routine, standard procedure, norm
An action performed primarily to attract attention or generate publicity.
Synonyms: gimmick, ploy, antic, spectacle, promotion
Antonyms: sincerity, subtlety, standard practice
Verb
To prevent, slow, or check the normal growth or development of something.
Synonyms: inhibit, impede, hinder, dwarf, suppress, restrict
Antonyms: nurture, promote, foster, encourage, accelerate, develop
(Informal) To show off or perform in a flashy, attention-grabbing, or impressive manner.
Synonyms: show off, flex (slang), grandstand, display
Antonyms: be modest, hide, downplay
Examples of Use
As a Feat or Trick (Noun)
This definition refers to a difficult or dangerous act requiring skill, often for entertainment.
Entertainment (Film): In the film The Fall Guy (2024), the main character is a professional stunt double who performs high-risk maneuvers, such as being set on fire and executing complex car crashes, for movie productions.
Newspapers/Online Publications: When reporting on action films, entertainment news outlets frequently analyze the "practical stunts" (acts performed physically rather than computer-generated) used. For example, coverage of the Mission: Impossible franchise invariably focuses on the dangerous stunts performed by actor Tom Cruise. (Variety, July 2023).
General Public Discourse (Social Media): On platforms like TikTok or YouTube, users often attempt dangerous challenges, which are frequently described by commentators as "irresponsible stunts" performed for views.
As a Publicity Ploy (Noun)
This definition refers to an action designed primarily to attract attention or generate publicity.
Newspapers (Politics): "Critics of the administration dismissed the controversial policy announcement as a 'political stunt,' timed to distract the public from the ongoing ethics investigation."
Online Publications (Marketing): "To promote its new energy drink, the company staged a publicity stunt by having a base jumper leap from a city landmark, ensuring widespread media coverage." (Ad Age, September 2024).
General Public Discourse: "When the celebrity couple announced their breakup right before their new show premiered, many people on social media debated whether it was genuine or just a stunt to boost ratings."
To Inhibit Growth (Verb)
This definition means to prevent or slow the normal development of something.
Books (Science/Academia): In biology or horticulture texts, authors explain how specific factors can affect an organism. For example, "A lack of nitrogen in the soil will severely stunt the plant's growth, resulting in yellow leaves and weak stems."
Newspapers (Economics): "Economists warned that rising interest rates could stunt economic recovery, making it harder for small businesses to secure loans for expansion." (The Financial Times, October 2024).
General Public Discourse: "I was worried that keeping my puppy in a small apartment would stunt his growth, but the vet said his size is determined by genetics."
To "Show Off" (Verb - Slang)
This definition is informal/slang, meaning to display one's wealth, skills, or possessions in a flashy manner.
Entertainment (Music): In hip-hop culture, the term is used frequently. Lyrics often describe "stunting" on rivals by showcasing expensive cars, jewelry, or designer clothes. (e.g., "He pulled up to the club just to stunt in his new Lamborghini.")
Social Media: An influencer might be accused of "stunting for the 'gram" (Instagram) by posting photos that flaunt a lavish or unattainable lifestyle purely for social validation.
10 Famous Quotes Using Stunt
"I don't do a stunt just to do a stunt." (Tom Cruise)
"Sending a couple of guys to the Moon and bringing them back safely? That's a stunt!" (Buzz Aldrin)
"Before I do a stunt, I have to make sure it is safe." (Jackie Chan)
"I'll teach you how to stunt." (50 Cent / G-Unit, "Stunt 101")
"I think it's a publicity stunt that we've convinced people it's delicious [chicken breast]." (Patrice O'Neal)
"Awards sell tickets, and they're a clever publicity stunt." (Tony Randall)
"I was bemoaning the loss of the practical stunt." (Steven Spielberg)
"We didn't try and curtail it and stunt any of that kind of growth." (Jared Leto)
A desperate politician will often mistake a shallow media stunt for a genuine policy announcement.
The daredevil knew that one miscalculation on a stunt of this magnitude would be his last.
Etymology
“Stunt” is an interesting word because its two main meanings—a "movie stunt" and "stunted growth"—come from two completely different places. They are not related.
Here is a simple breakdown of the word's two origins.
1. The "Action Feat" Meaning (The newer word)
This is the word we use for a "motorcycle stunt," a "publicity stunt," or a "movie stunt."
First Known Use: This meaning is fairly new. It first appeared in the United States in the late 1800s (around the 1870s-1880s).
Original Meaning: It started as American college slang. Back then, a "stunt" was a term for any kind of impressive feat, performance, or display, especially in athletics. If you made a great play in a game or showed off a difficult trick, you were pulling a "stunt."
How it Evolved: The word quickly spread from college campuses to professional entertainment. Circus performers, daredevils, and early filmmakers adopted it to describe their most dangerous or spectacular acts. This is how we got "stuntman" and the modern sense of the word.
2. The "Inhibited Growth" Meaning (The older word)
This is the word we use in the verb form "to stunt growth" or the adjective "stunted."
First Known Use: This word is much, much older. It comes from an Old English word, stunt, which was used over a thousand years ago.
Original Meaning: In Old English, stunt meant "foolish," "stupid," or "dull." It was related to other old Germanic and Norse words that meant "short," "blunt," or "cut short." You can see the connection: a "dull" or "blunt" object is "shortened" and not sharp.
How it Evolved: By the 1500s, this idea of "making something short or blunt" was applied to living things. To "stunt" something (like a plant or a child) meant to check its growth, preventing it from developing fully and keeping it "short." This is the meaning that survives today in the phrase "stunted growth."
So, while they are spelled the same, the "stunt" of an action hero and the "stunt" of a small plant are two different words that grew from two different roots.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Stunt
Phrases Using "Stunt"
Publicity stunt: An action or event designed primarily to attract public attention.
PR stunt: A more concise version of "publicity stunt."
Political stunt: A publicity stunt performed by a politician or political group.
Stunt double: A person who stands in for an actor to perform dangerous or difficult feats.
Stunt man / Stunt woman / Stunt performer: A professional who performs stunts, typically for media.
To pull a stunt: To do something unexpected, daring, or foolish, often for attention.
What kind of stunt...?: A common way to question someone's motives (e.g., "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull?").
Stunted growth: The condition of being underdeveloped or having one's growth inhibited.
To stunt (the) growth (of something): The verb phrase for inhibiting development.
Slang Phrases
To stunt (on someone): (Slang) To show off, flex, or display one's wealth, style, or skills in a flashy way, often to impress or intimidate others.
Stunt 101: (Slang, from a G-Unit song) The basic "class" or lesson on how to show off.
Related Idioms (Using Synonyms)
Here are idioms that convey a similar meaning to the different senses of "stunt."
For "Publicity Stunt" (A Deceptive Ploy):
A dog and pony show: An elaborate presentation designed to impress, often seen as all style and no substance.
Smoke and mirrors: A deceptive display intended to hide the truth.
All hat and no cattle: (American slang) All talk or show with no real ability or substance.
For "To Stunt Growth" (To Inhibit):
To nip (something) in the bud: To stop a problem or process before it has a chance to develop.
To clip (someone's) wings: To limit someone's freedom, potential, or ambition.
To put a damper on (something): To discourage or lessen the enthusiasm or development of something.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of stunt from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
