Thesaurus

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain. intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

- announced his intention to marry

intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

- the clear intent of the statute

purpose suggests a more settled determination.

- being successful was her purpose in life

design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

- the order of events came by accident, not design

aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

- her aim was to raise film to an art form

end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

- willing to use any means to achieve his end

object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

- his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

- their objective is to seize the oil fields

goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

- worked years to reach her goals

end

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of end

1 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point

letʼs end the meeting with a short prayer

Synonyms of end

close, close out, complete, conclude, finish, round (off or out), terminate, wind up, wrap up

Words Related to end

climax, crown

consummate, perfect

halt, stop, suspend

Phrases Synonymous with end

put paid to [chiefly British], ring down the curtain (on)

Antonyms of end

begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start

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

unfortunately, an argument ended their date, and theyʼre still not speaking to each other

Synonyms of end

break, break off, break up, can [slang], cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop, give over, halt, knock off, lay off, leave off, pack (up or in), quit, shut off, stop

Words Related to end

complete, conclude, finish

close (down)

deactivate

block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem

call, suspend

arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash, squelch, stamp, stanch (or staunch), stunt, suppress, turn back

pause, stay, suspend

abolish, abort, annul, demolish, destroy, dissolve, kill, ruin, scuttle, snuff

Phrases Synonymous with end

have done with, put the kibosh on

Near Antonyms of end

carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep up, run on

advance, proceed, progress

actuate, drive, impel, propel, stir

3 to come to an end

a book so good that you hate to see it end

Synonyms of end

break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out)

Words Related to end

desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from)

give over [British], knock off, pack (up or in)

break down, conk (out), cut out, stall

pause, stay, suspend

abate, peter (out), wind down

Phrases Synonymous with end

bite the dust

Near Antonyms of end

draw out, extend, prolong, protract

Antonyms of end

continue, hang on, persist

4 to stop living

a great general, who ended on the field of battle

Synonyms of end

check out, conk (out), croak [slang], decease, demise, depart, die, drop, exit, expire, fall, flatline, go, kick in [slang], kick off [slang], part, pass (on), pass away, peg out [chiefly British], perish, pop off, step out, succumb

Words Related to end

predecease

consume, disappear, dry up, fade, fail

Phrases Synonymous with end

bite the dust, buy it (or buy the farm), give up the ghost, kick the bucket, snuff it [British]

Near Antonyms of end

come to, revive

linger

be, exist, subsist

flourish, prosper, thrive

Antonyms of end

breathe, live

Synonym Discussion of end

close, end, conclude, finish, complete, terminate mean to bring or come to a stopping point or limit. close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.