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Synonym Chooser

How is the word discontinue distinct from other similar verbs?

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

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When might cease be a better fit than discontinue?

In some situations, the words cease and discontinue are roughly equivalent. However, 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 discontinue?

While the synonyms desist and discontinue are close in meaning, desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

When is it sensible to use quit instead of discontinue?

The meanings of quit and discontinue largely overlap; however, 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 discontinue?

The words stop and discontinue can be used in similar contexts, but 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 discontinue Customers first got a taste of the treat in 2000 but it was discontinued in 2019. Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Changes with this advisory The government of the Bahamas has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands and for the Southeast Bahamas, and has discontinued the Tropical Storm Watch for the Central Bahamas. Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2025 Store closing sales could continue at the locations set to close, while closing sales at some other locations were discontinued, according to the filing. IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025 Records that Milwaukee Tool employees provided to investigators showed the number of fraudulent orders rose between January and March 2025, which employees suggested may have been tied to the company’s decision to discontinue its employee discount system in April 2025. Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for discontinue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discontinue
Verb
  • At the end of 2024, SHR ceased operations, paving the way for the rise of the Haas Factory Team.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
  • In turn, matchups between strong Group of 5 teams and hefty pocketbooks will cease to exist.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Needless to say, progressive Democrats did not respond to those companies’ overtures by abandoning Trader Joe’s and prosecco to guzzle Buds at Wally World.
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The Commission was also unimpressed by Jackson continuing to promote SPIS’ data around the location on the pitch and timing of Paqueta’s bookings during the game during cross-examination, despite the fact that the FA had abandoned this evidence.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Fall weather isn't stopping the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) as its crews are set to begin a number of construction work across the state.
    Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Good Fortune follows Reeves as an angel, Gabriel, tasked by his boss, Martha (Sandra Oh), with stopping humans from dying while texting and driving.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Thanks to Chouinard’s financial backing, the development was halted, the river was protected, and the surf break was preserved.
    David Gelles, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Under orders from General Erinmore (Colin Firth), the pair must traverse enemy lines to deliver a life-or-death message to Colonel Mackenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch), halting an attack that would endanger more than 1,000 men.
    Emy LaCroix, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Then the key to Finnish success in reducing homelessness is the housing-first model, where the logic is that you're not required to quit using alcohol or narcotics.
    Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Growing economic uncertainty has kept workers from quitting their jobs and has led businesses to slow down hiring decisions, experts say.
    Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Popular visa categories often reach their annual limit well before the fiscal year ends, particularly for applicants from countries with high demand.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • George Springer’s revival season reaches new heights Springer ended last season with the ninth-lowest OPS in the American League.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Plus, the service lost subscribers last quarter—a show people are excited about could lure back some whose bundles expired.
    Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • When isolated statistics are presented without context in the media, there is every reason to conclude that data does not offer anything valuable to the conversation.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The letter concludes with a call for parents to engage with their children about appropriate conduct.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Discontinue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discontinue. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on discontinue

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