stumped
Americanadjective
-
completely at a loss; perplexed or nonplussed.
The stumped officer could only stare at the strange object, trying to figure out what it might be.
-
reduced to a stump; truncated; lopped.
Bowser was a small dog with a stumped tail.
These hills are in fact the stumped remains of mountains millions of years old.
-
Chiefly Southern U.S. stubbed, as one’s toe.
At the talk, someone in the audience joked, "A stumped toe is all I need as proof that matter is real!"
-
cleared of stumps.
It was looking more and more impossible to get the recently cleared and stumped field ready for planting by April 26.
-
(of a crayon drawing, pencil rendering, etc.) toned or modified by means of a stump, a blunt-tipped tool made of tightly rolled paper, leather, etc..
A stumped drawing by Willem de Kooning, almost rubbed out, inspired our interest in the process of reproduction.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stumped
First recorded in 1595–1605; 1840–45 stumped for def. 3; stump ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; stump ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Appeared in the May 30, 2026, print edition as 'A Math Problem Stumped Everyone For 80 Years.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
The award-winning No Balls: The Cricket Podcast with Hartley and Kate Cross will produce special episodes, while BBC World Service's Stumped podcast will have a new episode every week.
From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025
Stumped for Words: It is being stolen — that’s an absolutely valid, not at all “petty” complaint.
From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2023
"We've got a really nice blend of youth and experience so pulling those players together is going to be important," Knight told the BBC Stumped podcast.
From BBC • Dec. 3, 2022
Stumped by the mystery of Mr. Flux and his time-freezing camera.
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
