desist

verb

de·​sist di-ˈsist  -ˈzist 

dē-

desisted; desisting; desists

intransitive verb

: to cease to proceed or act

a court order to desist from selling the product

They were notified to cease and desist.

desistance

di-ˈsi-stən(t)s  -ˈzi- 

dē-

noun

Synonyms of desist

• stop
• cease
• end
• halt
• quit
• lay off
• cut off

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

Karoline Borwieck, the lawyer representing DUH in the proceedings, also said in the statement that the group wants the Chinese company to sign a cease-and-desist declaration backed by a contractual penalty. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2026

PlayVision was then hit with another cease-and-desist demand when James’ former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Luka Dončić, sent a missive raising similar objections over the use of his image in the promotional material. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Nov. 2026

By 2016, states were sending cease-and-desist letters to FanDuel and DraftKings, and both were facing bankruptcy. — New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026

It was recently reported that Sacks’ attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter to Good Influence, a company financing social media videos about his political involvement. — Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English desisten, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French desister, desistier, borrowed from Latin dēsistere "to leave off, cease," from dē- de- + sistere "to cause to stand, assume a standing position, place, check, halt" — more at assist entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing desist

• cease and desist
• cease and desist order

Rhymes for desist

• assist
• blacklist
• booklist
• checklist
• consist
• dismissed
• enlist
• exist
• insist
• oocyst
• persist
• resist

Kids Definition

desist

verb

de·​sist di-ˈsist  -ˈzist 

: to stop something one is doing