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

The United States and Iran signed a preliminary agreement in June that aimed to halt fighting and provide a path for a longer-term peace deal. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 20 July 2026

And so late Monday night, an order went out from an ICE official to all the ICE supervisors around the country to halt the vehicle stops. — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

Noun

One aspect that contributed to the gridlock was a number of Waymo's self-driving robotaxis idling on the road as traffic officials tried to remedy the halt in traffic. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Before every project hits the factory floor, a computer analysis calculates every cut and sorts out unforeseen hitches that can bring traditional projects to a halt such as conflicts between plumbing lines and bearing walls, Glenn said. — Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026