cease 1 of 2

verb

ˈsēs How to pronounce cease (audio)
Definition of ceasenext
1
as in to stop
to come to an end the rain finally ceased, and we were able to continue the baseball game

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to halt
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end cease chattering and get down to work, please

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cease

2 of 2

noun

as in cessation
the stopping of a process or activity worked without cease for the betterment of humanity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Outrage on social media did not cease until, miraculously, a savior came through years later in the form of Ketchup Entertainment, an upstart distributor that paid $50 million for the rights last year. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 Wall Street banks, including BlackRock, departed the Net-Zero Banking Alliance in droves, leading it to cease operations. — Olivia Raimonde, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
Oil shipments from Venezuela cease to Cuba. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026 The bar says the firm refused to remove McBratney’s name from its website for years despite a cease and desist letter. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cease
  1. stop
  2. halt
  3. cessation
  4. expire
  5. end
  6. ending
  7. conclude
  8. quit
Verb
  • The aid workers who once regularly visited her village to help pregnant women had stopped coming, after foreign aid cuts by the United States shuttered a program aimed at saving mothers’ and babies’ lives.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The exposure obviously scares him, but not enough to stop him from filming his next scene, where he’s been tasked with breaking in newcomer Cami Soul.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of stop
Verb
  • Monday’s win showed signs of another upward swing to halt what’s been an ugly skid.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Republican Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland applauded Commissioner Scott’s decision to halt construction.
    — Laura Romero, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of halt
Noun
  • Those commitments should be included in a framework agreement, signed by all sides, which outlines the core elements of an eventual peace and enables a cessation of hostilities.
    — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Texas law defines brain death as the irreversible cessation of brain function.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cessation
Verb
  • However, those warnings later expired, according to the Associated Press.
    — Jason Volack, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The law means requests for mail-in ballots expire at the end of a presidential election cycle and a new request must be submitted to vote by mail in subsequent elections.
    — Sara-James Ranta, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of expire
Verb
  • Jurin keeps working after the conversation ends—across phone, email, web chat and LINE, the messaging app used by the vast majority of Japan’s population—connecting plain language to the software that acts.
    — Jurin AI Contributor, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The senator expressed concerns about the effects if Arkansas tries to end Medicaid expansion altogether.
    — Nathan Ansell, Arkansas Online, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of end
Noun
  • And while the film's ending ultimately requires some logic-bending buy-in, the journey to get there is equal parts thrilling, fun, emotional, and ferocious.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Don't Let Resentment Outlive the Lesson Major Howell’s story has an unexpected ending, because his most potent insight came long after the working relationship had ended.
    — Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of ending
Verb
  • The Mexican government’s 2022 truth commission concluded that the cartel, Guerreros Unidos, and government authorities had been involved.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Training camp standout to preseason star Shortly after the draft concluded in April, Brown signed a rookie contract that guaranteed him just $105,000 at the time of signing.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • Some children are quitting school and starting to work to help their families make ends meet.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • In the 1980s, Hal quit being a Green Lantern, with John Stewart finally taking over.
    — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of quit

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Cite this Entry

“Cease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cease. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cease

Nglish: Translation of cease for Spanish Speakers

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