Synonyms of mothball

mothball

verb

as in to dismantle

to stop using (something) while keeping it to be possibly used in the future

Many navy ships were mothballed after the war.

Related Words

• dismantle
• phase out
• put aside
• kill
• shut off
• deactivate
• halt
• turn off
• brake
• cut off
• stick
• stall
• flick (off)
• draw up
• arrest
• chock
• jam

Dissimilar Words

• power
• generate
• push
• fire
• charge
• fuel
• switch
• launch
• discharge
• release
• trip
• electrify
• energize
• move
• start
• run
• set off
• reactivate
• drive
• activate
• trigger
• propel
• turn on
• spark
• recharge
• actuate
• touch off
• crank (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mothball

Some 1,000 construction workers were laid off as the Gateway Development Commission mothballed the project. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026

The Devil’s Place whiskey list also includes complete collections of special expressions and bottles from distilleries long mothballed. —Don Tse, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

The company began construction twice on the development, but now has mothballed that project. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026

Turkey conducted a single test firing near Sinop in 2020, then quietly mothballed the system. —Bobby Ghosh, Time, 22 Dec. 2025