STOP Synonyms: 338 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'stop' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of stop are cease , desist , discontinue , and quit . While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness. // stopped at the red light

Q: In what contexts can 'cease' take the place of 'stop'?

While in some cases nearly identical to stop , cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality. // by nightfall the fighting had ceased

Q: When can 'desist' be used instead of 'stop'?

In some situations, the words desist and stop are roughly equivalent. However, desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing. // desisted from further efforts to persuade them

Q: When could 'discontinue' be used to replace 'stop'?

The meanings of discontinue and stop largely overlap; however, discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice. // we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

Q: When is 'quit' a more appropriate choice than 'stop'?

Although the words quit and stop have much in common, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing. // the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

stop 1 of 2

verb

ˈstäp

Definition of stop next

as in to cease

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end the manufacturer will stop selling the toy and will immediately recall all the units that have already been sold

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Relevance

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as in to halt

to bring (something) to a standstill traffic was stopped for over an hour by the overturned truck

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as in to fill

to close up so that no empty spaces remain I stopped the mouse hole with plaster

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as in to end

to come to an end the music stopped but we kept on dancing

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as in to overcome

to achieve a victory over they were eventually stopped by the best team in the league

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stop

2 of 2

noun

as in break

a brief halt in a journey our guide called for a stop at the trail hut so we could eat and rest a bit

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as in station

a regular stopping place had lunch on a picnic table at a shady rest stop along the highway

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as in obstacle

something that makes movement or progress difficult pulled out all the stops and presented the most spectacular show ever

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as in halt

the stopping of a process or activity put a stop to this nonsense

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word stop distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of stop are cease, desist, discontinue, and quit. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

In what contexts can cease take the place of stop?

While in some cases nearly identical to stop, cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality.

by nightfall the fighting had ceased

When can desist be used instead of stop?

In some situations, the words desist and stop are roughly equivalent. However, desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

When could discontinue be used to replace stop?

The meanings of discontinue and stop largely overlap; however, discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When is quit a more appropriate choice than stop?

Although the words quit and stop have much in common, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of stop

Verb

The wave of protests comes at a critical moment as fractured Democrats struggle to stop the Republican president’s purge of the federal bureaucracy, which features thousands of layoffs inside departments focused on public health, education, veterans affairs and human services, among others. —

Steve Peoples, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025 Even so, this may encourage some of us to stop hemming our maxi-dresses and jeans in favor of throwing on a hidden pair of extra-tall platforms. —

Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2025

Noun

The Lima stop would have been only her third show on the tour. —

Tracy Wright, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2025 Our first stop was Buck Mason, where Kirston suggested a dark navy herdsman shawl cardigan ($298) and tan chinos ($158). —

Joel Stein, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for stop

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stop

Verb

The return-to-work ordinance would require city executives to determine timelines to cease remote-work options for their employees.

— Jessica Boehm, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Wednesday night, precipitation is expected to be both rain and snow but become all rain after 1 a.m. Snow is expected to cease heading into Thursday with rain instead predicted before 1 p.m.

— Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2025