Definition of DESIST

Choose the Right Synonym for desist

stop, cease, quit, discontinue, desist mean to suspend or cause to suspend activity. stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness. stopped at the red light 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 quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing. the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice. we have discontinued the manufacture of that item desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing. desisted from further efforts to persuade them

Examples of desist in a Sentence

Despite orders from the police, the protesters would not desist.

Recent Examples on the Web

In May, the Texas State Securities Board issued an emergency cease-and-desist order against Metals.com, alleging that the company was targeting customers between the ages of 65 and 90 with cold calls and scare tactics. — Melissa Repko, Dallas News, "Precious metals company to refund more than $10 million to Texas investors in settlement with state," 1 July 2019 In Supreme’s early years, Louis Vuitton sent the company a cease-and-desist letter for doing so. — Khadeeja Safdar, WSJ, "How Supreme Got Pulled Into a Fight for Its Billion-Dollar Brand," 28 June 2019 My hope and prayer is that this president and his allies will, again, cease and desist on calling the Mueller investigation a witch hunt. — Fox News, "'Special Report' panel on fallout from Russian indictments," 14 July 2018 The commission first censured the Ritz in 2004, issuing a cease-and-desist order accusing the hotel of failing to provide 25 public spaces in its garage. — Peter Fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "Half Moon Bay Ritz-Carlton ordered to quit impeding beach access," 13 June 2019 On May 1, the network sent a cease-and-desist letter to the producers of Bachelor the Musical: An Unauthorized Parody, a spoof that's been running in various venues across Los Angeles since September. — Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, "ABC Lawyers Shut Down 'Bachelor the Musical' Poster," 7 June 2019 The university sent the chapter a cease-and-desist letter on May 30, followed by a similar notice from the national fraternity a day later, said UC San Diego spokesperson Christine Clark. — K.c. Alfred, San Diego Union-Tribune, "UCSD fraternity suspended amid reports of sexual assault," 4 June 2019 Uber had just received a cease-and-desist letter from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. — Adam O’neal, WSJ, "‘The Fixer’ Review: A Technocrat at Work," 18 Oct. 2018 Collingswood resident Suzanne Cloud, who listed her three-bedroom house on Airbnb in 2014, was shocked to receive a cease-and-desist letter from the city. — Tauhid Chappell, Philly.com, "Supreme Courts decision could affect Pennsylvania politics, two casinos open in Atlantic city | Morning Newsletter," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'desist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.