1
as in ends
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 ceases
to come to an end
this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in defines
to mark the limits of
terminated the area set aside for the runners to change their clothes with a series of folding screens
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in assassinates
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 removes
to let go from office, service, or employment
he was terminated for constantly coming in to work late
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 terminates
In a 2014 study published in the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology, researchers reported that people with SAD had 5% more SERT, a protein that terminates serotonin signals, in the winter than in the summer.
—
Caroline Tien, SELF, 15 Jan. 2026
If the Senate terminates the filibuster procedure, debate on legislation would be limited.
—George Petras, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Notably, the facilities at the summit are closed from late October through the beginning of May; during this time of year, the train terminates at Waumbek Station, which sits at 4,000 feet.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025
There is a single two-lane road into and out of Black Rock City, which terminates at the Burning Man gate.
—Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Netflix’s Chaos Monkey randomly terminates instances in production to force engineers to build services that survive failures.
—Mukul Garg, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
When an employer terminates, or is found to have terminated, an employee without cause, the contract (outside of the unionized setting) seldom entitles the employee to ger her job back.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
His One Big Beautiful Bill Act terminates the investment and production tax credits for wind and solar by the end of 2027.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2025
If the judge terminates the settlement, the detention centers would be closed to third-party inspections.
—Valerie Gonzalez, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Caroline Tien, SELF, 15 Jan. 2026
If the Senate terminates the filibuster procedure, debate on legislation would be limited.
—George Petras, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Notably, the facilities at the summit are closed from late October through the beginning of May; during this time of year, the train terminates at Waumbek Station, which sits at 4,000 feet.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025
There is a single two-lane road into and out of Black Rock City, which terminates at the Burning Man gate.
—Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Netflix’s Chaos Monkey randomly terminates instances in production to force engineers to build services that survive failures.
—Mukul Garg, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
When an employer terminates, or is found to have terminated, an employee without cause, the contract (outside of the unionized setting) seldom entitles the employee to ger her job back.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
His One Big Beautiful Bill Act terminates the investment and production tax credits for wind and solar by the end of 2027.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2025
If the judge terminates the settlement, the detention centers would be closed to third-party inspections.
—Valerie Gonzalez, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terminates
Verb
-
Big and bold, this is often the museum that visitors talk about long after their Chicago trip ends.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The standoff ends when Lynch extends his left arm toward Bradley with the weapon in his hand, causing the officer to fire his service weapon once and Liu to fire two shots.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The world never ceases to produce grist for discussion.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Rithy has made several films about the Cambodian victims of the Khmer Rouge era, but here the focus seems to be on the crucible of disillusionment through which everyone must pass when the world ceases to cohere with our vision of it.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The mascara features a thin, flexible nylon brush that defines lashes from root to tip.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2026
-
That spirit of inclusion still defines her legacy.—
Najahe Sherman,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Historic specialist Wacoal introduced the Flawless line, with new technologies like ultrasound bonding, which removes the need for glue or seams, and its thinnest shapewear fabrics, offered in a range of forms.—
Alex Wynne,
Footwear News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Product description The original personal data removal service, Abine DeleteMe removes your info from data broker sites using both automation and human agents.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Under the current proposal, the regulatory pathway could also be imposed on Healthy Rivers and Landscapes participants if the State Water Board concludes the voluntary approach is falling short.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The daytime talk show will end its run after its seventh season concludes in the fall.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After the initial stomach issues subside, the toxin continues to invade the liver cells and stops them from making RNA (ribonucleic acid), which the body needs to make healing and protective proteins.—
Amy McGorry,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
In turn, breathing nearly stops, and its brain activity becomes barely detectable.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
System 2 handles high-level reasoning and language, System 1 translates perception into full-body motion at high frequency, and System 0 executes human-like balance and coordination at kilohertz rates.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The protocol feeds the graph, the graph trains the model, the model executes better transactions, which generates more protocol data.—
Joe Toscano,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Yet this gloss dismisses something that might be better understood as a guiding principle, and suggests that criticism of Israel is an idealist’s liability rather than a stance with growing support among Democratic voters.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Leadership that dismisses or undermines inclusion inflicts real harm on students, faculty, and staff.—
Wanda James,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terminates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terminates. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
