Stable — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈstā-bəl/ sta·ble

Meaning & Definition of Stable

Stable (noun)

  1. a building in which domestic animals are sheltered and fed; especially, such a building having stalls or compartments
  2. the racehorses of one owner
  3. a group of people (such as athletes, writers, or performers) under one management

Stable (verb)

  1. to put or keep in a stable
  2. to dwell in or as if in a stable

Stable (adjective)

  1. firmly established, fixed, steadfast
  2. not changing or fluctuating, unvarying
  3. permanent, enduring

Stable (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion

    "the observation tower is stable enough to withstand the strongest winds without collapsing"

    similar: bombproof, fast, firm, sound, stalwart, strong, sturdy
    related: dependable, durable, reliable, infrangible, irrefragable, unbreakable, beefy, solid, cohesive, tough
    opposite: rickety, unsound, unstable, unsteady
    near: infirm, insecure, weak, shaky, tottering, tottery, unbalanced, wobbly, unsubstantial

  2. having been established and usually not subject to change

    "a troubled nation badly in need of a stable government"

    similar: certain, determinate, final, firm, fixed, flat, frozen, hard, hard-and-fast, inexpugnable, set, settled
    related: nonadjustable, noncancelable, nonnegotiable, unchangeable, constant, steady, unchanging, uniform, unwavering, definite, exact, explicit, specific, given, stated, stipulated, dependable, good, reliable, responsible, safe, solid, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty
    near: adjustable, changeable, negotiable, indefinite, open-ended, unspecified, capricious, changeful, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, volatile

  3. having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions

    "she made some strange decisions back when she wasn't entirely stable"

    similar: balanced, clearheaded, compos mentis, lucid, normal, right, sane
    related: analytic, clear, coherent, logical, rational, reasonable, even-keeled, judicious, levelheaded, sensible, wise, healthy, sound, unneurotic, well-adjusted, well-balanced
    opposite: brainsick, crazed (sometimes offensive), crazy (usually offensive), daft (chiefly British, informal), demented, deranged (often offensive), insane, loco (slang), mad, maniacal, mental (sometimes offensive), unbalanced, unhinged, unsound
    near: bananas, batty, dotty, loopy, aberrant, delirious, disordered, delusional, delusionary, disturbed, eccentric, odd, oddball, off, pixilated, potty (chiefly British), queer, strange, foolish, senseless, witless, irrational, mixed-up, unreasonable, depressed, despondent, distracted, distraught, frantic, frenzied, hysterical, raving, wigged-out, amok, ape, ballistic, berserk, nuclear, fixated, monomaniac, monomaniacal, obsessed

  4. not undergoing a change in condition

    "a stable economic climate is best for business"

    similar: changeless, constant, stationary, steady, unchanging, unvarying, on an even keel
    related: fast, fixed, hard-and-fast, immutable, inflexible, invariable, unalterable, unchangeable, established, set, settled, ceaseless, continuing, durable, enduring, lasting, permanent
    opposite: capricious, changeful, changing, fickle, fluctuating, fluid, inconstant, mercurial, skittish, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, varying, volatile
    near: adaptable, alterable, changeable, flexible, mutable, variable, ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, momentary, transient, transitory, kaleidoscopic, phantasmagoric

Stable (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in force, host

    similar: force, host, posse, troupe, battalion, corps, troop, administration, department, help, personnel, staff, army, band, brigade, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, platoon, squad, team

Stable (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in secure, shed

    similar: ensconce, home, roost, secure, shed, tent, accommodate, bestow, billet, bivouac, board, bunk, camp, chamber, domicile, encamp, harbor, house, lodge, put up, quarter, roof, room, shelter, take in, barrack, bed (down)
    opposite: eject, evict

Related Entry: Augean stable (noun)

Augean stable is a different word from Stable. The synonyms below are for Augean stable, not for stable.

  1. a place of great vice and corruption

    "as a gubernatorial candidate he claimed that the state capitol was an Augean stable that desperately needed to be cleaned out"

    similar: cesspool, Gomorrah, sink
    related: tenderloin, den, dump, pigpen, pigsty, hellhole, hole

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Stable

The most common words with a similar meaning to Stable:

bombproof, fast, firm, sound, stalwart, strong, sturdy, certain, determinate, final, fixed, flat, frozen, hard, hard-and-fast, inexpugnable, set, settled, balanced, clearheaded, compos mentis, lucid, normal, right, sane, changeless, constant, stationary, steady, unchanging, unvarying, on an even keel, force, host, posse, troupe, battalion, corps, troop, administration

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Stable

Words with the opposite meaning of Stable:

rickety, unsound, unstable, unsteady, brainsick, crazed, crazy, daft, demented, deranged, insane, loco, mad, maniacal, mental, unbalanced, unhinged, capricious, changeful, changing, fickle, fluctuating, fluid, inconstant, mercurial, skittish, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, varying

Related Words for Stable

dependable, durable, reliable, infrangible, irrefragable, unbreakable, beefy, solid, cohesive, tough, nonadjustable, noncancelable, nonnegotiable, unchangeable, uniform, unwavering, definite, exact, explicit, specific, given, stated, stipulated, good, responsible, safe, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true

Near Antonyms of Stable

infirm, insecure, weak, shaky, tottering, tottery, wobbly, unsubstantial, adjustable, changeable, negotiable, indefinite, open-ended, unspecified, flickery, mutable, temperamental, variable, bananas, batty, dotty, loopy, aberrant, delirious, disordered, delusional, delusionary, disturbed, eccentric, odd

Word Forms of Stable

Inflections: stabled, stabling, stabler, stablest

Derived words: stableness (noun), stably (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Stable

Middle English, from Anglo-French estable, stable, from Latin stabulum, from stare to stand stand

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Stable

Words & Phrases Containing Stable

stable boy, stable fly, stable girl, Augean stable, livery stable, shelf-stable, stableman

Frequently Asked Questions about Stable

What does "Stable" mean?

"Stable" means a building in which domestic animals are sheltered and fed; especially, such a building having stalls or compartments. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: a building in which domestic animals are sheltered and fed; especially, such a building having stalls or compartments. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Stable"?

Other words for "Stable" include bombproof, fast, firm, sound, stalwart, strong, sturdy and certain. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Stable" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Stable"?

There are 139 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Stable". Common alternatives include bombproof, fast, firm, sound, stalwart, strong, sturdy, certain, determinate and final.

What is the opposite of "Stable"?

Antonyms of "Stable" include rickety, unsound, unstable, unsteady, brainsick, crazed, crazy and daft. Near antonyms include infirm, insecure, weak and shaky.

How do you use "Stable" in a sentence?

Examples of "Stable" in a sentence: "the observation tower is stable enough to withstand the strongest winds without collapsing"; "a troubled nation badly in need of a stable government"; "she made some strange decisions back when she wasn't entirely stable".

Is "Stable" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Stable" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Stable" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Stable" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Stable"?

"Stable" is pronounced /ˈstā-bəl/ and divided into syllables as sta·ble.