1
as in stops
to come to an end
the rain finally ceased, and we were able to continue the baseball game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in halts
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
cease chattering and get down to work, please
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity
worked without cease for the betterment of humanity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 ceases
Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Once the prisoner ceases his danse macabre, the crowd goes wild.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
The agreement includes a claw back provision that requires repayment of a portion of the incentive if QT9 ceases operating at the building within six years of occupying it.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
The world never ceases to produce grist for discussion.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Rithy has made several films about the Cambodian victims of the Khmer Rouge era, but here the focus seems to be on the crucible of disillusionment through which everyone must pass when the world ceases to cohere with our vision of it.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
To try and correct course, Ukraine and its European allies will insist that discussions with Russia on any territorial swaps can only take place once the war ceases along the current line of contact.
—Natalia Drozdiak, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
Johnson disagreed, writing in his 18-page order that the governor’s discretionary ability to set special election dates ceases after the 150-day mark.
—Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 16 Nov. 2025
Plant growth slows, flowering ceases, and deciduous leaves change color and drop.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2025
Verb
At that point the lines painted on the asphalt turn from cages into features of the landscape among many others, and the mysterious flying object ceases to be easily recognizable.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Once the prisoner ceases his danse macabre, the crowd goes wild.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
The agreement includes a claw back provision that requires repayment of a portion of the incentive if QT9 ceases operating at the building within six years of occupying it.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
The world never ceases to produce grist for discussion.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Rithy has made several films about the Cambodian victims of the Khmer Rouge era, but here the focus seems to be on the crucible of disillusionment through which everyone must pass when the world ceases to cohere with our vision of it.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
To try and correct course, Ukraine and its European allies will insist that discussions with Russia on any territorial swaps can only take place once the war ceases along the current line of contact.
—Natalia Drozdiak, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
Johnson disagreed, writing in his 18-page order that the governor’s discretionary ability to set special election dates ceases after the 150-day mark.
—Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 16 Nov. 2025
Plant growth slows, flowering ceases, and deciduous leaves change color and drop.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceases
Verb
-
For this reason, Yuen added, humidifiers can be particularly helpful for people who have a cold, asthma, or obstructive sleep apnea, which is when breathing starts and stops during sleep due to airway obstruction.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Additional stops to the itinerary are dropped and added at will.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The measure halts new admissions in rooms that already have two people; those already living in a room with three or four beds will not be forced to move.—
Jenna Carlesso,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Stanton demonstrates his battery by shorting the coils, which halts the pendulum due to the magnetic field’s braking effect.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For others, such as Roman Catholicism, Lent ends at sundown on Maundy, or Holy Thursday.—
Marina Johnson,
IndyStar,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Antibus said that when snowfall ends, the leftover snowpack is what causes dangerous conditions for avalanches in the backcountry.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After seven months of dating, Estes and Cavallari decided to call it quits.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The singer refused to flat-out say the Eagles are calling it quits.—
Thor Christensen,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Whereas a total solar eclipse is often associated with clean breaks or definitive endings, an annular eclipse often points to processes that unfold in stages.—
Christina Pérez,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Astronomers are used to dramatic endings.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But that pledge expires at the end of this year.—
Sophia Newcomer,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Yet the resignation occurs at a time of heightened rhetoric as the owners are expected to lock out the players at the conclusion of this season when the current collective bargaining agreement expires.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The filing period for mayoral candidates in the June 2 primary closes at noon on Saturday.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
As the teams in pursuit of the Eastern Conference crown bolster their rosters ahead of Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline, the Knicks remain an active party in a number of discussions before the league’s deal-making window closes for business.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ceases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceases. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
