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stop

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noun

1
as in break
a brief halt in a journey our guide called for a stop at the trail hut so we could eat and rest a bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in station
a regular stopping place had lunch on a picnic table at a shady rest stop along the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word stop distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of stop are cease, desist, discontinue, and quit. While all these words 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

In what contexts can cease take the place of stop?

While in some cases nearly identical to stop, 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 stop?

In some situations, the words desist and stop are roughly equivalent. However, desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

When could discontinue be used to replace stop?

The meanings of discontinue and stop largely overlap; however, discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When is quit a more appropriate choice than stop?

Although the words quit and stop have much in common, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

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 stop
Verb
Amazon’s comfy fall boot styles don’t stop here. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025 Early reporting can stop wider damage. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business's parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 26 Sep. 2025 Disembark at the 31st and Main stop. Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stop
Verb
  • Trouble in Mind Records, the Chicago label that specialized in punk and garage-rock for more than a decade, has ceased operations.
    Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 26 Sep. 2025
  • All her fraudulent welfare handouts ceased in January 2025.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • All talks of building or buying a new facility were halted, however, in December when the mayor announced emergency budget cuts to address a substantial deficit.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The federal Office of Management and Budget did not respond to The Bee’s request for clarification on which operations would be halted.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The fall sale is here at Nordstrom, and it’s filled with deals on top brands and trendy looks for every style and budget.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The appointments of Stacie Brown and Monty Baugh in March 2024 filled the remaining seats on the board.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But that’s not where the partnership ends.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Bryant ended his Cowboys career with the most receiving touchdowns for any receiver in team history (73).
    Mark Kern, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But to restore the city’s community gathering place, Sunrise Mall must overcome a wary economy and consumers’ disinterest in brick-and-mortar retail.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025
  • In the 2023 season, however, the Panthers stunned the Eagles in a regional semifinal playoff game, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The struggling Dolphins appear to at least be getting a break on bad weather.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Back in early 2023, the star explained why one of those breaks was longer than normal.
    Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And then at Veejay’s station — well, there are no clothes made yet, and Christian is shocked.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
  • No one was at the day care when NBC News affiliate KARE 11 went to the facility, the station reported.
    Meriam Bouarrouj, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Over the next 12 months, HMS will gain access to mentorship, commercial opportunities, business and legal advisory, digital tools, and physical resources such as co-working spaces and wet labs, support designed to help early-stage companies overcome common obstacles that startups face.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The permit problem According to Saltzer, capture is lagging because, despite available storage and existing pipelines, permitting new CO2 infrastructure remains a major obstacle.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stop. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

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