ceasefire

noun

cease·​fire ˈsēs-ˈfi(-ə)r How to pronounce ceasefire (audio)
variants or less commonly cease-fire
plural ceasefires also cease-fires
Synonyms of ceasefirenext
1
: a military order to cease firing
2
: a suspension of active hostilities

Examples of ceasefire in a Sentence

the two armies declared a ceasefire for the holiday
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
No caravans have yet entered Gaza during the ceasefire, said Tania Hary, executive director of Gisha, an Israeli group advocating for Palestinians' right to freedom of movement. Arkansas Online, 12 Dec. 2025 The ceasefire, however, has been fragile as some incidents of violence have continued and as both countries have continued a war of propaganda. Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025 Two months in, the ceasefire has been tested repeatedly, with both Hamas and Israel accusing each other of violating the agreement. Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025 The ceasefire deal signed in Washington just last week barely took hold at all, and the war now threatens to drag neighboring Burundi in, too. Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 11 Dec. 2025 Thousands died on both sides in the First Russo-Chechen War before a ceasefire. Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 11 Dec. 2025 Red Sea Tensions Shifting to the Middle East and Horn of Africa, the Red Sea remains a high-risk corridor for global commerce, where the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and a pause in Houthi attacks offer only a fragile chance for stabilization. Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025 Goldman has called for a ceasefire but hasn’t criticized Israel extensively, to the ire of the progressives who are now mobilizing against him. Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 9 Dec. 2025 Even as Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul warned that the time for negotiation is over unless Cambodia honors the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Michael Sullivan, NPR, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ceasefire was in 1844

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ceasefire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceasefire. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

cease-fire

noun
ˈsēs-ˈfī(ə)r
: a temporary stopping of warfare

More from Merriam-Webster on ceasefire

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