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Definition of stopnext
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stop

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noun

1
as in break
a brief halt in a journey our guide called for a stop at the trail hut so we could eat and rest a bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in station
a regular stopping place had lunch on a picnic table at a shady rest stop along the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word stop distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of stop are cease, desist, discontinue, and quit. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

In what contexts can cease take the place of stop?

While in some cases nearly identical to stop, cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality.

by nightfall the fighting had ceased

When can desist be used instead of stop?

In some situations, the words desist and stop are roughly equivalent. However, desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

When could discontinue be used to replace stop?

The meanings of discontinue and stop largely overlap; however, discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When is quit a more appropriate choice than stop?

Although the words quit and stop have much in common, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stop
Verb
Now, one of her playgrounds and two classrooms sit empty because one key group of kids has stopped coming. Calmatters, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026 In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
Pairing Thomas with some stop-gap solutions would help smooth the transition to Leonhard’s scheme. Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026 Because there was a second stop between Minnesota and waivers, the Timberwolves were eligible to re-sign the veteran guard this season. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stop
Verb
  • Paramount Skydance has also sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, making similar accusations, Variety reported over the weekend.
    Dylan Butts, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Oil imports from Venezuela have ceased since Washington toppled its leader last month, cutting Cuba’s main source of energy.
    Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Stellantis cancelled its line of Jeep plug-in hybrids earlier this year, and companies including Nissan and Tesla have halted or ended some EV models entirely.
    Julian Torres, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Hospital officials halted care at the center's total 35 clinics in the state.
    Alana Wise, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • My parents have both passed away, and my birthday has always been a cherished day, filled with memories and meaning.
    Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
  • The crowd, filled with mostly Illini fans, roared with delight.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • As soon as our interview ended, the seven idols disappeared to change outfits for an evening rehearsal, and returned minutes later, slurping down steaming cups of ramyeon.
    Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
  • His night ended amid a storm of laughing students and obscene gestures.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • France’s Eric Perrot overcame a wobble on the final shoot and a late surge from Norway’s Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen to win a sensational first men’s relay gold medal for his country today.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
  • While most fungal attempts at infection fail, a small number do succeed thanks to the constant evolutionary pressure on pathogens to overcome host plant defenses.
    Lily Peck, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Fears made three three-pointers in the first half and Michigan State took a 43-23 lead into the break.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Fears made three 3-pointers in the first half and Michigan State took a 43-23 lead into the break.
    Daily News, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Rediscovery of ancient creatures Back in the 1970s, the team discovered the fossils eroding from a rock formation on the Noonkanbah cattle station, located east of the isolated township of Derby in the Kimberley.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
  • At the station, Manuelito urges Leaphorn to tell Chee about his decision to leave.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In Waterfield’s view, the single biggest obstacle for genetic genealogy is the cost of lab work and rising upload fees associated with the DNA databases relied upon by investigators.
    Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Anything that was anti-Jewish—a story about exclusion, an obstacle that hadn’t come down, a disapproving enumeration of supposedly Jewish traits—was possibly more fascinating.
    Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stop. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.

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