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

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 Target continued the sales even after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Burberry early this year about several different product knockoffs, according to the lawsuit filed May 3rd in New York federal court. — Kevin Mccoy, USA TODAY, "Burberry lawsuit accuses Target of copying its iconic check plaid pattern," 11 May 2018 In Nashville this week, another scooter ride-share company, Bird, received a cease-and-desist letter from that city, according to the Tennessean newspaper. — Steve Harrison, charlotteobserver, "Charlotte warns scooter company to end service. Now riders are 'jamming city e-mails' | Charlotte Observer," 10 May 2018 In 2014, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera ordered startup MonkeyParking to cease and desist from selling street parking spaces via a mobile phone app. — Michael Cabanatuan, SFChronicle.com, "DMV investigates startup that has disrupted appointment process," 11 July 2018 The White House, in the most predictable response ever, has threatened libel charges and called on Henry Holt & Co. to cease and desist from disseminating the book. — Carlos Lozada, Philly.com, "Michael Wolff's 'Fire and Fury': Tumultuous, riveting, but trustworthy?," 14 Jan. 2018 Hearings were held for almost two years, and in May 1941, the FTC issued an order directing Good Housekeeping to cease and desist from the use of seals declaring that its advertised products had been tested and approved. — Good Housekeeping, "The History of the Good Housekeeping Seal," 1 Oct. 2011 In order to desist the former Middlesbrough coach from the temptations of a potential top-club offer and to secure his tactical and strategic skills after Russia, the FA are looking to improve Southgate's £1.8m a year contract. — SI.com, "FA Optimistic Gareth Southgate Will be England's Manager at Euro 2020 Despite Potential Club Offers," 8 July 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.