1
as in stops
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was halted by the parade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ceases
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ends
to come to an end
all filming halted when the star of the movie quit in a huff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in limps
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitates
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in jams
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
2
as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity
gardening came to a halt during the week of solid rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of halts
CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
Judge halts end of deportation protections for South Sudanese.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Despite the fires, a spokesman for the project said leaders are optimistic about progress before winter weather halts construction.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Dec. 2025
Because the upper river freezes each year, barge traffic always halts until springtime.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 26 Nov. 2025
This sudden injury halts his pursuit of facing John Cena at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 13.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
This designation halts outpatient and elective procedures and ensures more beds are open for emergencies.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Park websites and social media accounts also go dark, fire management plans are paused, and wildlife tracking halts midseason.
—AFAR Media, 23 Oct. 2025
Tonight’s loss for OD Wyatt halts its five-game win streak, which only adds to the competitiveness in the division.
—Chris Winters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025
Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The fact that any soliloquy halts dramatic action also poses a challenge.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
Verb
The order temporarily halts enforcement of the law on cruise ships while the appeals process moves forward, her email noted.
—CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
Judge halts end of deportation protections for South Sudanese.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Despite the fires, a spokesman for the project said leaders are optimistic about progress before winter weather halts construction.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Dec. 2025
Because the upper river freezes each year, barge traffic always halts until springtime.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 26 Nov. 2025
This sudden injury halts his pursuit of facing John Cena at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 13.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
This designation halts outpatient and elective procedures and ensures more beds are open for emergencies.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Park websites and social media accounts also go dark, fire management plans are paused, and wildlife tracking halts midseason.
—AFAR Media, 23 Oct. 2025
Tonight’s loss for OD Wyatt halts its five-game win streak, which only adds to the competitiveness in the division.
—Chris Winters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
Conflict in Yemen has prompted air traffic halts — leaving about 600 tourists stranded on a remote island.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The fact that any soliloquy halts dramatic action also poses a challenge.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for halts
Noun
-
More than 200 producers sell seasonal fruit and vegetables, breads and cheeses of every kind, charcuterie, olives and tapenades, quiches, jams, and honey—and that's just the food section.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The album’s maximalist approach, combining an array of live instruments, VSTs, and samplers, sometimes coheres into true jams.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for reform of the Security Council's permanent members in his annual statement on the anniversary of the United Nations charter, arguing that the current establishment excludes key global voices and suffers from too many deadlocks.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Twice in recent years, the board spent months facing regular partisan deadlocks — first after Nathan Fletcher resigned in 2023 and again after Nora Vargas left office early this year.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Janus is the Roman god of doorways, beginnings and endings, and transitions.—
Gwen Faulkenberry,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Aside from the characters’ happy endings, many of the Conformity Gate clues appear in the finale’s graduation scene.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bowie set his sights on the ends of the observable universe, and on places even darker.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The company’s latest model, the Saros Rover, comes with two articulated legs with wheels at their ends.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And as 2025 closes and a new year begins, Fogliato is showing progress.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Jan. 2026
-
No, gift cards can become worthless if the business files for bankruptcy or closes.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
25 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Brooks’s screenplay makes ample space to dump praise upon its protagonist while bemoaning her many predicaments.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
-
But this is just one of the many predicaments of writing memoir.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
And though Li has won playoff games before in previous stops, with previous teams, winning Saturday would be a nice moment for himself, too.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Halts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/halts. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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