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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

2
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
There was no anger from the stands or the players at a 20th league defeat — everybody stopped being too concerned by their league form a long time ago. Jay Harris, New York Times, 12 May 2025 Parts of the river so choked by weed that boat traffic was stopped were clear within days. Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2025
Noun
For long-term investors, the rising 200-day moving average is a great level for a stop loss, which is right at $205. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 12 May 2025 During the stop, Hemphill said Nichols struggled with officers, and Haley pushed him into the car. Jack Armstrong, USA Today, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for stop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stop
Verb
  • When that shows '0,' this restaurant needs to cease operations.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • Starting June 1, the forecast office in Fairbanks, Alaska, also will cease overnight staffing; Pendleton, Oregon, also is on the list provided by Fahy, but a date has not been set.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • After Trump halted the refugee program, freezing funding for processing and resettlement aid, a group of refugees and resettlement agencies filed a federal lawsuit challenging shutdown.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • Voice of America, which was founded in 1942, halted operations on March 15, a day after Mr. Trump signed an executive order seeking to gut the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
    Minho Kim, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • The agency, whose fewer than 1,900 federal employees oversee the more than 60,000 contractors who build and maintain the U.S. nuclear arsenal, has struggled to fill crucial safety roles.
    Davis Winkie, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • And the internet is filled with travel advisors and tour agencies that sell these types of hidden adventures.
    Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • The game ended on a sacrifice fly at 1:17 a.m. Arkansas will throw junior right-hander Gage Wood against LSU junior right-hander Anthony Eyanson.
    Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025
  • The result, a rare 6-2-5-4 double play to end the inning.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • During a stretch in which the Twins are outscoring opponents 68-29, the team is receiving contributions from just about everyone on the roster while concurrently overcoming the mounting injuries.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 18 May 2025
  • Yet amid the devastation, a few glimmers of hope remain—Palestine’s U-20 national women’s team recently won the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Championship, overcoming Jordan 4-2 in a penalty shootout in the final following a 1-1 draw.
    Samindra Kunti, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • Verizon said all of the same provisions will apply to Frontier. Need a break?
    David Shepardson, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • Chances arrived at both ends before the decisive moment, David Silva bouncing a close-range volley over the bar before the break, while Kenwyne Jones toe-poked a shot into a sprawling Joe Hart — Stoke’s only on-target attempt of the game.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Our manager had the idea to have the local college radio station host us.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • The station’s closure will end three routine climate reports by June 1.
    Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • Players utilize a set of common rules -- that can be altered by the game master -- and dice to overcome obstacles as the group works to collaboratively tell a story.
    Remington Miller, Arkansas Online, 16 May 2025
  • Powered by Adelaide, Forbes AI Running a company means facing obstacles that shake your foundation.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stop. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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