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

After launching investigations into the incident and initially revoking the five officers’ access to the systems, IMPD Chief Tanya Terry suspended and recommended terminating four of the officers after one already resigned. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 23 Sep. 2026

Later in the day, Pattis moved in federal court to block Comptroller Sean Scanlon and Attorney General William Tong from immediately terminating Diamantis’ pension and retirement benefits. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

But the company confirmed earlier this week that the property owner is terminating the lease before its expiration. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

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 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