Synonyms of halts

halts 1 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of halt

1

as in stops

to bring (something) to a standstill

traffic was halted by the parade

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stops
• stalls
• catches
• arrests
• blocks
• hinders
• stays
• checks
• suspends
• impedes
• obstructs
• holds
• ends
• pulls up
• brings up
• terminates
• stills
• concludes
• draws up
• detains
• stems
• balks
• holds up
• suppresses
• snags
• fetches up
• clogs
• discontinues
• baffles
• holds back
• calls
• blockades
• cuts off
• dams
• represses
• bottlenecks
• turns back
• reins (in)
• squashes
• squelches
• stunts
• chokes off
• stanches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continues
• persists
• keeps (on)
• moves
• progresses
• proceeds
• advances
• follows through (with)
• carries on
• runs on
• marches
• keeps up
• fares
• pushes
• propels
• goes along
• drives
• spurs
• stirs
• impels
• wends
• actuates
• goads
• budges

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

• stops
• ceases
• ends
• quits
• suspends
• drops
• delays
• discontinues
• concludes
• breaks
• finishes
• packs (up or in)
• completes
• cuts off
• has done with
• shuts off
• breaks off
• leaves off
• cuts out
• lays off
• desists (from)
• gives over
• checks
• knocks off
• breaks up
• pauses
• blocks
• hinders
• obstructs
• impedes
• suppresses
• cans
• deactivates
• aborts
• closes (down)
• puts the kibosh on
• holds
• detains
• stays
• destroys
• abolishes
• stems
• ruins
• scuttles
• calls
• arrests
• squelches
• dissolves
• brakes
• kills
• demolishes
• stamps
• holds back
• turns back
• squashes
• annuls
• reins (in)
• clamps down
• blockades
• dams
• snuffs
• stunts
• kiboshes
• stanches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continues
• progresses
• proceeds
• advances
• carries on
• runs on
• drives
• follows through (with)
• stirs
• keeps up
• impels
• propels
• actuates

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

• stops
• ceases
• ends
• expires
• concludes
• terminates
• passes
• closes
• dies
• finishes
• goes
• determines
• discontinues
• elapses
• lapses
• stalls
• quits
• winds up
• breaks off
• leaves off
• winks (out)
• breaks up
• suspends
• lets up
• pauses
• dead-ends
• bites the dust
• stays
• packs (up or in)
• refrains (from)
• abates
• breaks down
• cuts out
• desists (from)
• gives over
• lays off (of)
• knocks off
• winds down
• conks (out)
• peters (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continues
• persists
• hangs on
• extends
• prolongs
• draws out
• protracts

halts

2 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of halt

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

• limps
• hobbles
• shuffles
• stumbles
• falters
• staggers
• lurches
• wavers
• totters
• flounders
• hitches
• teeters
• wobbles
• blunders
• shambles
• dodders

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strides
• glides
• sails
• breezes

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

• hesitates
• falters
• waits
• staggers
• wavers
• vacillates
• dithers
• pauses
• teeters
• balances
• debates
• hangs back
• lingers
• wobbles
• scruples
• sways
• ponders
• delays
• dawdles
• procrastinates
• deliberates
• shilly-shallies
• weighs
• chickens (out)
• haws
• backs down
• considers
• oscillates
• hems
• dallies
• equivocates
• hedges
• waffles
• pussyfoots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decides
• plunges (in)
• continues
• dives (in)
• stirs
• advances
• budges

halts

3 of 3

noun

plural of halt

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

• jams
• deadlocks
• standstills
• binds
• predicaments
• impasses
• gridlocks
• dilemmas
• stalemates
• logjams
• problems
• standoffs
• pickles
• holes
• bottlenecks
• Mexican standoffs
• fixes
• dead ends
• pinches
• plights
• corners
• difficulties
• morasses
• spots
• quagmires
• quandaries

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

• cessations
• endings
• ends
• closes
• stops
• ceases
• closures
• conclusions
• shutdowns
• finishes
• stays
• stoppages
• arrests
• discontinuances
• terminations
• offsets
• pauses
• lapses
• shutoffs
• discontinuations
• expirations
• cutoffs
• checks
• closedowns
• surceases
• arrestments
• interruptions
• suspensions
• phaseouts
• breaks
• standstills
• moratoriums
• layoffs
• mop-ups
• abeyances
• letups

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuations
• continuances
• extensions
• prolongations
• persistences

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of halts

Verb

This mechanism functions as a physical switch, giving operators an extra layer of direct control because shutting off the external neutron generator immediately halts the nuclear reaction. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026

The countywide legislation halts zoning and permitting processes for data centers and BESS sites in unincorporated areas of Jackson County for 180 days, which sponsor Sean Smith and other legislators have said will create time for the county to set more detailed permanent land use policies. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026

But the publishing machine never quite halts, and the coming months do star a (smaller) collection of exciting new releases. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 25 June 2026

This single point of failure was enough to trigger delays, halts and, in some cases, outright business failures. — Justin Hertzberg, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

The findings do not definitively prove that birding halts cognitive decline, but the evidence is promising. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2026

The framework halts the fighting, reopens the Strait of Hormuz and moves the countries closer to an agreement that could result in Iran turning over its enriched uranium. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 June 2026

The late-night order halts what would have been the nation’s ninth nitrogen execution, a rare reprieve in a state where recent nitrogen deaths involved shaking, gasping and prolonged suffering. — Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026

This halts the cooking process, preventing mushy, overcooked pasta, and removes the excess starch, which would otherwise cause the noodles to stick together. — Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026

Noun

The automatic stay halts proceedings but doesn't compel creditors to undo pre-petition filings without operative effect. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Since prolonged production halts can cause permanent damage to oil wells, shutting them down is typically a last resort. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 June 2026

In practice the printer ran for about 3 months (including setup and halts), whereas a traditional cast bridge might have taken 3–4 times longer. — Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026

Former leaders warn that the loss of institutional knowledge, combined with halts to the incoming pipeline of public health workers, may lead to a long-term crisis. — Pien Huang, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026

Automotive industry analysts are forecasting that another microchip shortage could hit in the coming months, which could increase risks for production halts as costs skyrocket. — Breana Noble, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Nerves of an energy crisis intensified over the weekend as oil producers in the Gulf announced further halts to production, with Bahrain’s national oil company declaring force majeure. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026

The abrupt disruption resulted in chip shortages and production halts at several automakers. — Sarah Jacob, Bloomberg, 14 Jan. 2026

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