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terminate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of terminate

1 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 of terminate

close, close out, complete, conclude, end, finish, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up
Words Related to terminate

climax, crown

consummate, perfect

halt, stop, suspend
Phrases Synonymous with terminate

put paid to [chiefly British], ring down the curtain (on)
Antonyms of terminate

begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start
2 to come to an end
  • this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day
Synonyms of terminate

break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, wind up, wink (out)
Words Related to terminate

desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from)

give over [British], knock off, pack (up or in)

break down, conk (out), cut out, stall

pause, stay, suspend

abate, peter (out), wind down
Phrases Synonymous with terminate

bite the dust
Near Antonyms of terminate

draw out, extend, prolong, protract
Antonyms of terminate

continue, hang on, persist
3 to mark the limits of
  • terminated the area set aside for the runners to change their clothes with a series of folding screens
Synonyms of terminate

bound, circumscribe, define, delimit, demarcate, demark, limit, mark (off)
Words Related to terminate

control, determine, govern

delineate, describe
4 to put to death deliberately
  • the operative's covert mission was to terminate the leader of the opposition
Synonyms of terminate

assassinate, bump off, croak [slang], dispatch, do in, execute, get, ice [slang], knock off, liquidate, murder, neutralize, off [slang], put away, rub out, slay, snuff, take out, whack [slang]
Words Related to terminate

blow away, shoot, shoot down

blot out, carry off, claim, cut down, destroy, fell, kill, smite, zap

butcher, massacre, mow (down), slaughter

annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, exterminate, wipe out
Phrases Synonymous with terminate

do away with
Near Antonyms of terminate

animate, raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive
5 to let go from office, service, or employment
  • he was terminated for constantly coming in to work late
Synonyms of terminate

ax (or axe), bounce, can, cashier, discharge, dismiss, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, turn off
Words Related to terminate

downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim

boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat

separate
Phrases Synonymous with terminate

send packing, show the door (one)
Near Antonyms of terminate

keep

reemploy, rehire

contract, subcontract

recruit
Antonyms of terminate

employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on

Synonym Discussion of terminate

close, end, conclude, finish, complete, terminate mean to bring or come to a stopping point or limit. close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.
    • close a debate
end conveys a strong sense of finality.
    • ended his life
conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).
    • the service concluded with a blessing
finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.
    • after it is painted, the house will be finished
complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.
    • the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement
terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.
    • your employment terminates after three months

Learn More about terminate

  1. See words that rhyme with terminate Dictionary: Definition of terminate Spanish Central: Translation of terminate Nglish: Translation of terminate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of terminate for Arabic speakers

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