cease 1 of 2

cease

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cease distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cease are desist, discontinue, quit, and stop. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," 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

When can desist be used instead of cease?

The words desist and cease can be used in similar contexts, but desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

In what contexts can discontinue take the place of cease?

The synonyms discontinue and cease are sometimes interchangeable, but discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When is it sensible to use quit instead of cease?

While in some cases nearly identical to cease, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

When would stop be a good substitute for cease?

In some situations, the words stop and cease are roughly equivalent. However, stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cease
Verb
Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, many Western companies ceased working with or severely limited their business with Russia, including logistics firms like Amazon, FedEx, UPS, DHL, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 May 2025 The city does not own any land in the area, but officials approved assessing the public streets and sidewalks the city does own to help, costing it $42,000 a year, and voted yes in the election. Operation of the dewatering system is expected to cease once funds are depleted. Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
Noun
For Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine, this cold front could prove to be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back in how any cease fire negotiations with Russia might ultimately play out. Daniel Markind, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 At his press conference on Thursday, Biden countered his debate showing to some extent by delivering substantive answers to complex foreign policy situations, including the war in Ukraine and the potential cease fire in Gaza. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for cease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cease
Verb
  • The chase reportedly ended when Buckley wrecked near the intersection of Watts and McAlister streets, an area of mostly forest about 1 1/2 miles southeast of where Buckley was first stopped.
    Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2025
  • It's been hard for any team to stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named the regular season MVP.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The ruling halted a 30% tariff on China, a 25% tariff on certain goods from Mexico and Canada, and 10% baseline tariffs on most of the rest of the world, but did not affect import taxes on steel, aluminum, or automakers, which Trump levied under a different law.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 29 May 2025
  • The Kyiv Independent reported that Russia’s foreign minister reiterated that no deal would be considered without committing to NATO halting eastward expansion, which would prevent Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova from ever entering the alliance.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • Those cessations in breathing are what constitutes apnea.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 19 May 2025
  • In multiple rounds of diplomacy in 2014 and 2015, after Russia’s takeover of Crimea and incursion into Ukraine’s Donbas region, France and Germany expended more effort on a cosmetic cessation of hostilities than on solving the underlying problems of regional security.
    Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Means' Oregon medical license expired in 2019 and was moved to inactive in January 2024.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • The Weather Service’s heat advisory for the Los Angeles area, which was expected to be in place through Thursday, expired at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • The new legislation is the latest in a flurry of bills introduced by Democratic lawmakers aimed at ending the ability of presidents and members of Congress to own or oversee businesses that issue or promote crypto products.
    Michelle Conlin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Celebrating Rubio’s announcement, Miami Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar claimed that ending the Chevron license provides a crippling blow to Maduro’s finances.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • On a more emotional level, the anticlimactic ending ushered in the conclusion of a 46-year career for coach Bob Babb.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 31 May 2025
  • The follow-up comment, which has received more than 200,000 likes, spurred debate over the new version’s ending, in which Nani (played by Sydney Elizebeth Agudong) moves to California for college and agrees to give up Lilo (Maia Kealoha) to the state, with the girl being raised by a neighbor.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Some investors must be concluding that this is basically a no-growth company.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 May 2025
  • Before her game this week against the Phoenix Mercury, Reese was asked about the investigation concluding that the claims were not substantiated.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • For example, quitting is one of the hardest moments to avoid tears.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • When an instance of misconduct is alleged and the investigation begins to make some headway, the police or corrections officer might quit or retire.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cease. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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