desist

Synonym Chooser

How is the word desist distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of desist are cease, discontinue, quit, and stop. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

When would cease be a good substitute for desist?

Although the words cease and desist have much in common, 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 is it sensible to use discontinue instead of desist?

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

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When might quit be a better fit than desist?

While the synonyms quit and desist are close in meaning, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

When could stop be used to replace desist?

In some situations, the words stop and desist 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 desist Usually, cease-and-desist letters were sufficient. Bernard Leca, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025 In other developments, state police officers Sunday night served cease-and-desist orders on strikers at their homes, Miller said. Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025 The result of a cease-and-desist from Tig Notaro 28. Vulture Staff, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2025 The official said on Friday that WhatsApp had sent Paragon a cease-and-desist letter following the hack. Raphael Satter and James Pearson, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desist
Verb
  • When that shows '0,' this restaurant needs to cease operations.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • Starting June 1, the forecast office in Fairbanks, Alaska, also will cease overnight staffing; Pendleton, Oregon, also is on the list provided by Fahy, but a date has not been set.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • It’s thought that freezing and discontinuing funding to the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) since January 24, may have already led to more than 4,800 child deaths.
    Niamh Rowe, Quartz, 8 May 2025
  • Officials in President Donald Trump's administration announced during a meeting on Monday at the EPA's Office of Atmospheric Protection that the office would be dissolved and the Energy Star program discontinued.
    Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025
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
  • After Trump halted the refugee program, freezing funding for processing and resettlement aid, a group of refugees and resettlement agencies filed a federal lawsuit challenging shutdown.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • Thursday, his group was halted for a little while on the 14th hole because a turtle had damaged a bunker and the grounds crew needed a minute to rake it back to perfection.
    Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • That Walker finished the entire seven-game trip 4-for-27 furthered the thought.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 25 May 2025
  • Baltimore Ravens The Ravens finished the 2024 season ranked 31st in passing yards allowed.
    Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • In 2022, former Controller’s Office employee Vi Tran accused the agency of employment discrimination, among other allegations, asserting she was terminated by managers over physical disabilities, according to a lawsuit filed in Sacramento Superior Court.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2025
  • O’Sullivan’s employment contract with the village was terminated by the board last month.
    Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • The Liberty have concluded their months-long victory lap that started with a trip down the Canyon of Heroes and ended among the world’s biggest pop-culture superstars at the Met Gala.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
  • Investigators later concluded that faulty mechanical systems, combined with weak oversight, were to blame.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Desist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desist. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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