Staunching, the act of stopping or stemming something, can have a variety of antonyms depending on the context of use. If the word is applied in a medical context, antonyms could include "bleeding" or "hemorrhaging". Alternatively, in a political or social context, antonyms might be "encouraging" or "promoting" rather than halting progress. In a violent or tumultuous situation, antonyms could be "aggravating", "intensifying", or "inciting". Ultimately, the appropriate antonym for staunching will depend on the specific situation or scenario in which the term is used, and careful consideration should be taken in selecting the most appropriate word.