terminate 1 of 2

verb

ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce terminate (audio)
Definition of terminatenext
1
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point we need to terminate the discussion for this evening, but we'll resume tomorrow morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to come to an end this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to define
to mark the limits of terminated the area set aside for the runners to change their clothes with a series of folding screens

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to assassinate
to put to death deliberately the operative's covert mission was to terminate the leader of the opposition

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to remove
to let go from office, service, or employment he was terminated for constantly coming in to work late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

terminate

2 of 2

adjective

as in terminable

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb terminate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of terminate are close, complete, conclude, end, and finish. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

When might close be a better fit than terminate?

While the synonyms close and terminate are close in meaning, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When is complete a more appropriate choice than terminate?

The meanings of complete and terminate largely overlap; however, complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Where would conclude be a reasonable alternative to terminate?

The words conclude and terminate can be used in similar contexts, but conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

When can end be used instead of terminate?

In some situations, the words end and terminate are roughly equivalent. However, end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

In what contexts can finish take the place of terminate?

The synonyms finish and terminate are sometimes interchangeable, but finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

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 terminate
Verb
Several top-ranking police officials were terminated, and over a dozen MPD officers were placed on leave that month amid an internal investigation into the scandal. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026 At least 22 hospices that opened in the Friar Street building were later terminated by Medicare, though that number is likely higher because the federal database only lists hospices by the most recent address. — Jason Henry, Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026
Adjective
That control gave Puglisi the sole authority to set up new credit card accounts, change spending limits, manage card access and terminate accounts. — Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021 See All Example Sentences for terminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terminate
  1. end
  2. stop
  3. define
  4. assassinate
  5. remove
  6. terminable
  7. conclude
  8. cease
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
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
  • The idea that government, which has been defined as incompetent and inefficient for decades, could provide grocery abundance and variety better than Walmart and Costco has triggered a visceral reaction among critics.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Fierezza, for example, is defined by contrasts between pink peppercorn, incense, and marine notes.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of define
Verb
  • Experts say the changes mark a shift in approach compared to the more cautious tone under Mojtaba’s father, Ali Khamenei, who was supreme leader until assassinated by Israel at the start of the war.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival?
    — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of assassinate
Verb
  • When the researchers removed the neurons, the heart stopped functioning completely.
    — Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The measure effectively cut off government funding for shrines and removed Shinto practices and teachings from public institutions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of remove
Adjective
  • The contract is terminable at will on 15 days’ prior notice.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Indefinite employment terminable only for cause had existed as early as the founding of Harvard College in 1650.
    — Time, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Definition of terminable
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
  • Workers at the nonprofit were laid off after the money went missing, and the organization eventually ceased operating.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Combs' team issued two cease-and-desist letters to Netflix in response to the documentary's release.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of cease

Browse Nearby Words

terminals
terminate
terminated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terminate. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on terminate

Nglish: Translation of terminate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of balmy

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All