Synonyms of halt

halt 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈhȯlt 

1

as in to stop

to bring (something) to a standstill

traffic was halted by the parade

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• stall
• catch
• arrest
• check
• block
• stay
• hinder
• suspend
• impede
• hold
• obstruct
• draw up
• pull up
• end
• still
• bring up
• hold up
• stem
• conclude
• terminate
• fetch up
• detain
• dam
• suppress
• balk
• cut off
• clog
• snag
• hold back
• blockade
• discontinue
• call
• bottleneck
• turn back
• repress
• baffle
• squelch
• rein (in)
• stunt
• stanch
• choke off
• squash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• keep (on)
• proceed
• persist
• carry on
• run on
• move
• keep up
• advance
• march
• progress
• go along
• push
• spur
• follow through (with)
• fare
• drive
• stir
• propel
• budge
• wend
• impel
• goad
• actuate

2

as in to cease

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

the private eye abruptly halted his surveillance of the building upon being spotted by his subject

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

3

as in to end

to come to an end

all filming halted when the star of the movie quit in a huff

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

halt

2 of 3

verb (2)

1

as in to limp

to walk while favoring one leg

even with her twisted ankle, she managed to halt along and complete her Walk for Peace

Synonyms & Similar Words

• limp
• hobble
• shuffle
• stumble
• falter
• stagger
• lurch
• waver
• totter
• blunder
• hitch
• flounder
• shamble
• wobble
• teeter
• dodder

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breeze
• stride
• sail
• glide

2

as in to hesitate

to show uncertainty about the right course of action

she was often confused, halting between the responsibilities of her job and the demands of her home life

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hesitate
• falter
• stagger
• hang back
• wait
• waver
• pause
• vacillate
• dither
• debate
• balance
• scruple
• delay
• teeter
• wobble
• sway
• linger
• haw
• shilly-shally
• deliberate
• dawdle
• ponder
• hem
• back down
• procrastinate
• chicken (out)
• weigh
• oscillate
• equivocate
• consider
• hedge
• waffle
• pussyfoot
• dally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decide
• continue
• stir
• plunge (in)
• dive (in)
• advance
• budge

halt

3 of 3

noun

1

as in standstill

a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in

negotiations are at a halt, with neither management nor the union budging on the issue of salary limits

Synonyms & Similar Words

• standstill
• jam
• deadlock
• predicament
• impasse
• stalemate
• gridlock
• dilemma
• standoff
• bind
• problem
• pickle
• logjam
• hole
• Mexican standoff
• plight
• dead end
• bottleneck
• corner
• fix
• pinch
• difficulty
• quagmire
• spot
• quandary
• morass

2

as in cessation

the stopping of a process or activity

gardening came to a halt during the week of solid rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuation
• continuance
• extension
• persistence
• prolongation

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of halt

Verb

These hospitals pledged to halt patient lawsuits Several hospital chains have been scrutinized for their billing practices and willingness to sue patients for uncollected debt. —Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026

Bentley, Maserati and other high-end car companies are also halting deliveries due to security risks and logistics. —Robert Frank, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026

Noun

The war could grind the AI build-out to a halt. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026

Meanwhile, Reuters estimates that at least 40% of Russia’s oil export capacity is at a halt following Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure and the seizure of tankers. —Chloé Farand, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026