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 cease-and-desist letters come a week after a 17-year-old Brooklyn boy died while riding an illegally fast e-bike near City Hall. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026

The lawsuit, filed July 9, alleges Panaderia y Taqueria Chihuas, 4810 Chambers Road, violated a cease-and-desist order the board issued in February. — Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 3 Aug. 2026

Prosecutors said the conduct continued after Pacers Sports & Entertainment sent him a cease-and-desist letter and banned him from team properties and events. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

On Monday, Mexico began filing complaints to US state and federal prosecutors to request criminal investigations, and sent cease-and-desist letters to private companies that manage US detention centers where Mexican immigrants have died. — Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 14 July 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