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

The county Department of Consumer and Business Affairs relied on cease-and-desist letters and warning notices and not as much on financial recovery for tenants or punishment against rent gougers, the report concluded. —Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026

Soon after, both Disney and Paramount sent cease-and-desist letters to ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant that owns Seedance as well as TikTok. —The Week Us, TheWeek, 24 Feb. 2026

The letter, sent Friday, marks the first time the MPA has forwarded a cease-and-desist to a major AI firm and represents a further escalation of tensions between the entertainment industry and an AI company. —Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026

Scofield, 40, of Moscow, sent cease-and-desist letters to Guillard in the ensuing weeks, but her demands were ignored. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 23 Feb. 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