cease 1 of 2

cease

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cease distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cease are desist, discontinue, quit, and stop. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," 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 cease?

The words desist and cease can be used in similar contexts, but desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

In what contexts can discontinue take the place of cease?

The synonyms discontinue and cease are sometimes interchangeable, but discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When is it sensible to use quit instead of cease?

While in some cases nearly identical to cease, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

When would stop be a good substitute for cease?

In some situations, the words stop and cease are roughly equivalent. However, stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

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 cease
Verb
Amid the wreckage, popular feminism in the United States ceased to be a matter of political organization and transformed instead into a personal identity. Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025 In Illinois, the state Department of Agriculture also said the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, which offers better market opportunities and new streams of revenue to small and mid-sized agricultural producers, also ceased to operate. Bloomberg News, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
The song was set for a March 2024 release, but allegedly, Drake put a legal stop to it with a cease & desist. Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 1 July 2024 Amid calls from the United States and other nations for an immediate cease fire, protests against the war broke out on college campuses across the U.S. and the world over the past few months. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 16 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for cease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cease
Verb
  • Has Bacteria-Fighting Properties A study found that ACV helped stop the growth of two harmful bacteria: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli).
    Johna Burdeos, Health, 7 Apr. 2025
  • He belly flopped onto the ice in ecstasy and relief before he was mobbed by his teammates, and then the game stopped to celebrate the greatest goal scorer who ever lived.
    Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • During a recent visit to Beijing, Trump ally and US Senator Steve Daines told Bloomberg News that China must halt the flow of fentanyl ingredients into the US before any trade negotiations could begin.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
  • President Donald Trump has worked to advance his agenda at lightning speed, but courts have halted those efforts after an avalanche of challenges to his actions.
    Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The crucial question, though, is whether this creeping ceasefire is the start of a real peace process that may develop into an actual cessation of hostilities and even a lasting peace in Ukraine.
    Matthew Chance, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Its cessation would cause an immediate breakdown in command and control across Ukrainian frontlines, which would be militarily disastrous.
    Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Cal Fire is currently under contract to serve the southern district, but the county has opted to allow that contract to expire at the end of June.
    Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The manual lacks instructions on timer and temperature usage, and there is no confirmation that the automatic shut-off feature is effective when the timer expires.
    Jordan Liberty Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Here, then, there are no fierce battles that end within a matter of minutes, and no miles-long journeys glossed over by a convenient dissolve.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Pinch hitter Gavin Lux followed with a walk, but two straight flyouts ended that threat.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • So the ending of the record is getting up onto the top of the moors and screaming at the sky—and off and into the clouds, and then we’re gone.
    Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Season 3 left off in a dire place — in a shocking twist ending, Ava betrayed Deborah after the comedian had stabbed her in the back by naming someone else as the head writer of her new late-night show.
    Esther Kang, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • During her time on the long-running ABC drama, which concluded after 12 seasons in 2005, Delaney won an Emmy in 1997 for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series.
    Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • In its most recent meeting, which concluded on March 19, Fed officials acknowledged growing economic uncertainty, prompting them to raise their inflation forecast while lowering their growth outlook.
    Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Despite Hill being overtly frustrated about the end of the season, quitting on a team is never the right move.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Beginning in April 2020, parents of former Squad members — who had all quit over the toxic work environment — began to contact various authorities over Smith’s business operation, according to the Los Angeles Times.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cease. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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