Synonyms of terminates

terminates

verb

present tense third-person singular of terminate

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

• ends
• concludes
• finishes
• completes
• closes
• winds up
• rounds (off or out)
• wraps up
• rings down the curtain (on)
• closes out
• suspends
• puts paid to
• consummates
• climaxes
• halts
• crowns
• perfects
• stops

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• begins
• starts
• opens
• commences
• inaugurates

2

as in ceases

to come to an end

this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ends
• ceases
• stops
• expires
• halts
• concludes
• passes
• closes
• dies
• finishes
• goes
• determines
• discontinues
• elapses
• quits
• lapses
• winds up
• breaks off
• stalls
• leaves off
• winks (out)
• breaks up
• suspends
• lets up
• dead-ends
• pauses
• bites the dust
• stays
• refrains (from)
• packs (up or in)
• desists (from)
• cuts out
• breaks down
• lays off (of)
• abates
• gives over
• knocks off
• winds down
• conks (out)
• peters (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continues
• persists
• extends
• hangs on
• prolongs
• draws out
• protracts

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

• defines
• describes
• delimits
• bounds
• demarcates
• limits
• marks (off)
• circumscribes
• governs
• demarks
• determines
• controls
• delineates

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

• assassinates
• executes
• murders
• slays
• kills
• neutralizes
• liquidates
• gets
• dispatches
• destroys
• snuffs
• whacks
• does away with
• croaks
• takes out
• offs
• shoots
• slaughters
• rubs out
• does in
• puts away
• ices
• knocks off
• eliminates
• bumps off
• smites
• eradicates
• claims
• cuts down
• blows away
• zaps
• shoots down
• annihilates
• blots out
• carries off
• exterminates
• mows (down)
• fells
• wipes out
• massacres
• butchers

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restores
• raises
• revives
• animates
• resurrects
• resuscitates

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

• removes
• dismisses
• retires
• sacks
• releases
• fires
• discharges
• axes
• bounces
• turns off
• cans
• musters out
• downsizes
• shows (someone) the door
• separates
• pink-slips
• sends packing
• lays off
• excesses
• boots (out)
• unseats
• trims
• cashiers
• kicks out
• furloughs
• drums (out)
• throws out
• chucks (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• retains
• engages
• employs
• keeps
• hires
• signs (up or on)
• takes on
• contracts
• rehires
• reemploys
• recruits
• subcontracts

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of terminates

Taking in Wiggins without sending out any salary likely terminates any notion of the Hawks operating as a cap-room team this summer. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 22 June 2026

Over the summer, Hobart comes to life as its beaches and waterways are populated with happy locals and the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race terminates in the harbor. — Riley Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2026

That post-mortem right, though, terminates no longer than 70 years after an individual’s passing. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 18 June 2026

That appears to be behaving a bit like an oceanic hot spot, leaving a trail of massive eruptions across the Snake River Plain that terminates at the immense calderas beneath present-day Yellowstone. — ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2026

And Republicans are on the clock, operating under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which terminates military operations after 60 without congressional approval. — Claudia Grisales, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026

Two of the most important alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz are Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, which terminates at the Red Sea port of Yanbu, and the United Arab Emirates' ADCOP pipeline, which feeds the export terminal at Fujairah. — Victor Ordonez, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026

Andrew Fleischman, a Georgia defense attorney who is not involved in Moore's case, said that means authorities could seek murder charges against a woman who intentionally terminates her pregnancy after there's cardiac activity. — CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026

When a glacier terminates in a lake, the warmth of the water can speed up the ice’s melting, making the glacier flow faster, thin and retreat, thereby expanding the size of the lake. — Dan McGrath, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026