Usage
What does stumper mean? A stumper is a question that’s incredibly difficult to answer—one that stumps you. As a verb, stump can mean to confuse, puzzle, or perplex completely, as in The last question on the test really stumped me. When you are stumped in this way, you are usually at a loss—you don’t know the right answer and you might not even have a guess. This sense of the word usually refers to questions or riddles, but it can also refer to a problem whose solution is unknown. Unrelatedly, the word stumper can also refer to a person who campaigns for a politician candidate. The word stump can refer to a platform for making speeches. This use isn’t common, but this sense of the word is commonly used in a figurative way to refer to the place where political campaign speeches are made, especially in the phrase on the stump, as in The senator went out on the stump to try to win re-election. Stump can also be used as a verb meaning to campaign, as in He’s stumping in Iowa today or He has endorsed the senator and will be stumping for her. The term stump speech most often refers to a speech made on a campaign tour. It most commonly refers to a speech made by the politician who’s campaigning, but it can also refer to a speech made in support of that politician—a stumper. Stumpers are known for making stump speeches, but they can also do other things to stump for the candidate they’re supporting, such as giving interviews or making appearances. Example: My nephew came up with a riddle that’s a real stumper—it took me a week to figure it out!
Etymology
Origin of stumper
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.
The conversation grew increasingly heated from there as Carlson launched stumper after stumper made up of basic facts.
From Salon • Jun. 18, 2025
Tarantino’s end credits’ citation of another piece of period marketing, a 1960s “Batman” radio promotion featuring Adam West and Burt Ward, offer another stumper of an Easter Egg.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2019
It’s a stumper, but hardly one that you’re going to lose sleep over.
From Washington Post • Apr. 9, 2018
In the melting pot that is the big wide world, “Who am I?” is the ultimate stumper.
From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2018
For eighteen years the writer has been seated at his desk, and all kinds of books have been passed in review, but has never before met with such a stumper as Etidorhpa.
From Etidorhpa or the End of Earth. The Strange History of a Mysterious Being and The Account of a Remarkable Journey by Lloyd, John Uri
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.
