SUSPEND Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of suspend are defer , postpone , and stay . While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied. // business will be suspended while repairs are underway

Q: When would 'defer' be a good substitute for 'suspend'?

While the synonyms defer and suspend are close in meaning, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time. // deferred buying a car until spring

Q: When can 'postpone' be used instead of 'suspend'?

Although the words postpone and suspend have much in common, postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time. // the game is postponed until Saturday

Q: When might 'stay' be a better fit than 'suspend'?

The synonyms stay and suspend are sometimes interchangeable, but stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority. // the governor stayed the execution

suspend

verb

sə-ˈspend

Definition of suspend

as in to postpone

to bring to a formal close for a period of time the judge suspended the hearing to give the district attorney more time to process evidence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to hang

to place on an elevated point without support from below suspended a banner proclaiming the town's "Heritage Days" from the archway

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word suspend distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of suspend are defer, postpone, and stay. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

When would defer be a good substitute for suspend?

While the synonyms defer and suspend are close in meaning, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

When can postpone be used instead of suspend?

Although the words postpone and suspend have much in common, postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

When might stay be a better fit than suspend?

The synonyms stay and suspend are sometimes interchangeable, but stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

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 suspend Mike Jacobs became the first player suspended by Major League Baseball for a positive HGH test under the sport’s minor league drug testing procedures. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Less than an hour afterward, DeSantis announced that Caruso was suspended from public office. — Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026 Following the 2024 Georgian parliamentary elections, Georgian Dream suspended its accession talks with the EU. — Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Most public schools across Hawaii reopened but Hawaii County's non-emergency operations were still suspended, officials said. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suspend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspend

Verb

One woman said her surgery had been postponed because of the network outage.

— Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak postponed a hearing on the request in light of a Wednesday ruling from Judge Jennifer Lynch.

— Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of postpone

Verb

While this unfolds, Rebecca is trying to carve out some quality time with Matthijs via a quickie in her office that Ted has the bad timing to interrupt.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
The objective is to preserve access while reducing disruption and ensuring that information does not depend on a handful of employees who are most comfortable interrupting the boss.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of interrupt

Verb

But once every 12 years, during the Year of the Horse, the doors swing open.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
The inning should have been over after Bo Bichette swung on a bouncing pitch that went back to the backstop, but Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz threw the ball past first base, and Bichette was safe.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of swing

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suspects

suspend

suspended

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Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of suspend

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