Synonyms for cease
Definitions
- v. 1
To stop.
And with that, his twitching ceased.
- v. 2
To stop doing (something).
And with that, he ceased twitching.
- v. 3
To be wanting; to fail; to pass away, perish.
Related words
- Word family
- cease-fire ceaseless
- Phrases
- cease-fire
Forms
- Past participle
- ceased
e.g. ceased → stopped, discontinued, terminated, desisted…
Choose the right word
Strains of music may gradually or suddenly cease.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- quit The odds are against me, so I think I'll quit now.
- abandon Many Armenians were forced to abandon their lands.
- terminate Globalists want to terminate the property till 2030.
- expire Tom's driver's license will expire next month.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| cease | falling | |
| quit | rising | |
| abandon | steady | |
| terminate | falling | |
| discontinue | falling | |
| expire | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- end1, die1
- 4 letters
- stop1, rest1, drop1, pass1, lack1, quit1
- 5 letters
- leave1, break1, stint1, belay
- 6 letters
- finish2, arrest2, desert2, cancel2, anchor2, expire2, desist2, stanch1
- 7 letters
- abandon3, refrain2, staunch1, forbear
- 8 letters
- conclude2
- 9 letters
- terminate3
- 11 letters
- discontinue4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (finish2 = 2 syllables).