Synonyms of cease

cease 1 of 2

verb

ˈsēs 

1

as in to stop

to come to an end

the rain finally ceased, and we were able to continue the baseball game

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• expire
• end
• halt
• conclude
• terminate
• discontinue
• die
• pass
• go
• finish
• close
• determine
• elapse
• quit
• lapse
• wind up
• leave off
• let up
• break off
• stall
• wink (out)
• break up
• bite the dust
• refrain (from)
• dead-end
• suspend
• desist (from)
• pause
• lay off (of)
• pack (up or in)
• stay
• abate
• cut out
• give over
• break down
• knock off
• wind down
• peter (out)
• conk (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• persist
• hang on
• extend
• prolong
• draw out
• protract

2

as in to halt

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

cease chattering and get down to work, please

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• halt
• end
• quit
• discontinue
• suspend
• delay
• can
• conclude
• drop
• cut off
• shut off
• lay off
• desist (from)
• cut out
• finish
• pack (up or in)
• break
• leave off
• have done with
• break off
• give over
• break up
• complete
• check
• knock off
• impede
• put the kibosh on
• hinder
• obstruct
• pause
• suppress
• deactivate
• ruin
• close (down)
• block
• detain
• abort
• hold
• abolish
• dissolve
• stay
• destroy
• stem
• hold back
• call
• blockade
• arrest
• dam
• kill
• brake
• turn back
• scuttle
• annul
• squelch
• demolish
• stanch
• stamp
• rein (in)
• clamp down
• stunt
• squash
• kibosh
• snuff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• proceed
• carry on
• run on
• keep up
• advance
• progress
• follow through (with)
• stir
• drive
• propel
• actuate
• impel

cease

2 of 2

noun

as in cessation

the stopping of a process or activity

worked without cease for the betterment of humanity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cessation
• halt
• ending
• end
• stop
• close
• conclusion
• closure
• termination
• discontinuance
• shutdown
• stay
• arrest
• discontinuation
• finish
• stoppage
• expiration
• offset
• lapse
• surcease
• shutoff
• cutoff
• closedown
• pause
• arrestment
• check
• suspension
• interruption
• standstill
• abeyance
• moratorium
• phaseout
• break
• mop-up
• layoff
• letup

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuation
• continuance
• extension
• persistence
• prolongation

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

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

Recent Examples of cease

Verb

The pandemic was killing thousands daily and, with vaccines only just beginning to roll out, normal life and work had largely ceased. —Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026

Global oil supply is set to drop by eight million barrels a day in March, the IEA said, while liquified-natural-gas- and gasoline-making facilities in the region have also basically ceased production. —Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2026

Noun

But soon after the release, media behemoths Paramount and Disney sent cease-and-desist letters to ByteDance –– the company most famous for developing the video-sharing app TikTok –– accusing it of infringing upon their intellectual property. —Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026

The issue came to a head at the end of January 2024, when several Ramona wineries received cease-and-desist letters from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026