1
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point
we need to terminate the discussion for this evening, but we'll resume tomorrow morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to come to an end
this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in to assassinate
to put to death deliberately
the operative's covert mission was to terminate the leader of the opposition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to remove
to let go from office, service, or employment
he was terminated for constantly coming in to work late
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in terminable
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of terminate
Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 1 June 2026
The federal government terminated Weiss from the Medicare program after its air conditioning failed earlier that summer, leading to temperatures in the upper 80s in parts of the hospital.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021
ChristianaCare, the state’s largest health care system and largest private employer, has stated that all employees must receive the first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 21, or the health system with terminate workers who don’t unless given an exemption.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2021
See All Example Sentences for terminate
Verb
The agreement can be terminated by either company with 90 days of notice.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 1 June 2026
The federal government terminated Weiss from the Medicare program after its air conditioning failed earlier that summer, leading to temperatures in the upper 80s in parts of the hospital.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Adjective
That control gave Puglisi the sole authority to set up new credit card accounts, change spending limits, manage card access and terminate accounts.
—Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021
ChristianaCare, the state’s largest health care system and largest private employer, has stated that all employees must receive the first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 21, or the health system with terminate workers who don’t unless given an exemption.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2021
See All Example Sentences for terminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terminate
Verb
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The argument is that increasing fear among Ukrainian citizens will in turn put more pressure on Zelensky’s government to end the war on the Kremlin’s terms.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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The superintendent of the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District said that a shooting took place after the graduation ceremonies had ended.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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In order to secure the funds, the family members submitted fake financial instruments and money orders, continuing to do so even after the IRS sent them letters telling them to stop, according to the statement.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
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The order, which Trump signed in private on June 2, stops short of mandating that the federal government conduct safety evaluations and cybersecurity testing for advanced AI products.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
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But Kyiv’s early embrace of drones, and the mass-industrialization of their accuracy and power, has begun to exact a defining toll on Moscow.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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Taken together, those cultural threads help explain why food – and especially meat – carries an outsized symbolic role in Texas politics, where the official state dish, adopted in 1977, is chili, defined by its significant meat base.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
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That version of the city crumbled on April 9, 1948, when, just across the street, Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, one of the most popular politicians in Colombian history, was assassinated.—
Roberto Andrés,
The Dial,
28 May 2026
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Eleven days later, Israel assassinated his successor in a subsequent strike.—
Dana Karni,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Escalante Sandoval then approached the parked van, removed a key concealed in the gas cap and backed it up, allowing a group of people to move three deep freezers from the van into the bed of the truck and load them with packages.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
-
Nothing has been touched since the artist’s death in 2009 except for dust removed by a neighbor and caretaker.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
In any other job, this would be a terminable offense.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
20 May 2026
-
The contract is terminable at will on 15 days’ prior notice.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The day concluded with the endorsement of Tad Jude as candidate for secretary of state, with Republicans attempting to oust Democrat Steve Simon, who is running for a fourth term.—
Jay Gabler,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
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Qatar Sports Investments bought PSG in 2011, the deal concluded just under a year after the tiny Gulf state of Qatar was named host nation for the 2022 World Cup.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Or maybe fun and games ceased some 20 years ago when Facebook, Twitter and Instagram launched and anonymous threats could be dispatched by anyone with an account.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
Drone strikes on the UAE are still occurring sporadically, but the wide-scale alerts of the early conflict have ceased — along with the associated distress.—
Melanie Swan,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terminate. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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