Synonyms of terminating

terminating 1 of 2

adjective

as in closing

following all others of the same kind in order or time

the terminating speech of the political convention turned out to be the most inspiring

Synonyms & Similar Words

• closing
• final
• concluding
• latest
• last
• latter
• terminal
• lowest
• ultimate
• rearmost
• following
• lag
• penultimate
• succeeding
• eventual
• ensuing
• consequent
• bottommost
• crowning
• farthest
• hindmost
• lowermost
• outermost
• conclusive
• remotest
• furthest
• decisive
• definitive
• furthermost
• farthermost
• extreme
• endmost
• nethermost
• utmost
• outmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• initial
• beginning
• first
• starting
• opening
• original
• primary
• earliest
• pioneer
• maiden
• foremost
• headmost
• inaugural
• superior
• eminent
• leadoff
• premier

terminating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of terminate

1

as in ending

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

• ending
• concluding
• finishing
• completing
• closing
• winding up
• wrapping up
• rounding (off or out)
• closing out
• putting paid to
• suspending
• ringing down the curtain (on)
• crowning
• climaxing
• consummating
• halting
• perfecting
• stopping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• beginning
• starting
• commencing
• opening
• inaugurating

2

as in stopping

to come to an end

this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ending
• stopping
• ceasing
• halting
• concluding
• expiring
• passing
• closing
• finishing
• discontinuing
• dying
• determining
• going
• lapsing
• stalling
• elapsing
• quitting
• breaking off
• winding up
• leaving off
• winking (out)
• letting up
• dead-ending
• breaking up
• suspending
• biting the dust
• pausing
• refraining (from)
• laying off (of)
• packing (up or in)
• staying
• cutting out
• giving over
• knocking off
• desisting (from)
• breaking down
• winding down
• abating
• petering (out)
• conking (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuing
• persisting
• hanging on
• extending
• prolonging
• drawing out
• protracting

3

as in defining

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

• defining
• limiting
• bounding
• describing
• delimiting
• demarcating
• circumscribing
• marking (off)
• governing
• controlling
• demarking
• determining
• delineating

4

as in murdering

to put to death deliberately

the operative's covert mission was to terminate the leader of the opposition

Synonyms & Similar Words

• murdering
• assassinating
• executing
• slaying
• killing
• dispatching
• neutralizing
• liquidating
• getting
• destroying
• snuffing
• whacking
• slaughtering
• taking out
• doing away with
• offing
• putting away
• doing in
• shooting
• croaking
• icing
• knocking off
• eliminating
• claiming
• rubbing out
• bumping off
• eradicating
• cutting down
• zapping
• blowing away
• exterminating
• shooting down
• carrying off
• smiting
• felling
• annihilating
• butchering
• massacring
• blotting out
• mowing (down)
• wiping out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restoring
• raising
• reviving
• animating
• resurrecting
• resuscitating

5

as in removing

to let go from office, service, or employment

he was terminated for constantly coming in to work late

Synonyms & Similar Words

• removing
• dismissing
• sacking
• firing
• retiring
• releasing
• discharging
• axing
• bouncing
• mustering out
• canning
• turning off
• cashiering
• pink-slipping
• showing (someone) the door
• separating
• trimming
• downsizing
• sending packing
• laying off
• furloughing
• excessing
• unseating
• kicking out
• drumming (out)
• booting (out)
• chucking (out)
• throwing out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• retaining
• employing
• hiring
• engaging
• keeping
• signing (up or on)
• taking on
• contracting
• rehiring
• recruiting
• reemploying
• subcontracting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of terminating

Verb

Versatile full-back Joao Cancelo, meanwhile, has joined permanently after mutually terminating his contract at Al Hilal — following his second loan spell at Barca last season. — Pol Ballús, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Federal law requires the DHS secretary to consult with the State Department when evaluating country conditions before extending or terminating a nation’s TPS designation. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

The allegations involving Gutman are part of a broader lawsuit in which Said claims she was subjected to discrimination and retaliation and that ABC and Disney failed to accommodate her health needs before ultimately terminating her employment. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026

Monee officers pursued them north on Interstate 57, terminating the chase near Interstate 80 as speeds and heavy traffic created a life safety issue, police said. — Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

The high court’s 6-3 conservative-majority ruling curtailed lower courts’ ability to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from terminating TPS designations. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026

Kavanagh alleged that Sky retaliated by terminating her contract and marching her out of the building. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026

The Batesville School Board on Wednesday named a new superintendent, just under a week after terminating the previous district head, who had been on leave since February. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 6 Aug. 2026

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office argued that the restrictions at the heart of the lawsuit are necessary for women to understand all of their options before terminating a pregnancy. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026