desist

1 of 2

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

desistance

2 of 2

noun

de·​sis·​tance

variants or less commonly desistence

-tən(t)s

plural -s

: the act of desisting : cessation of action

pending desistance from violence

Synonyms of desist

Verb

• 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

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

What started as a fun way to get into the tournament spirit took an unexpected turn when they were served with legal papers from FIFA’s lawyers last Friday and ordered to cease and desist trading in the offending apparatus. — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 15 June 2026

Other artists – some who have sent cease-and-desist letters or threatened suits - include Aerosmith, Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Phil Collins, Celine Dion, Olivia Rodrigo, John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival), Foo Fighters, Guns N' Roses, Elton John, Linkin Park, Panic! — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 12 June 2026

The report notes that Waites was also handed two cease-and-desist letters in the weeks following her resignation for shooting campaign videos inside Atlanta City Hall and using the city seal in campaign materials. — Riley Bunch, AJC.com, 4 June 2026

The bar says the firm refused to remove McBratney’s name from its website for years despite a cease and desist letter. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Verb

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