1
as in stops
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was halted by the parade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ceases
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the private eye abruptly halted his surveillance of the building upon being spotted by his subject
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ends
to come to an end
all filming halted when the star of the movie quit in a huff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in limps
to walk while favoring one leg
even with her twisted ankle, she managed to halt along and complete her Walk for Peace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitates
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
she was often confused, halting between the responsibilities of her job and the demands of her home life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in jams
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in
negotiations are at a halt, with neither management nor the union budging on the issue of salary limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity
gardening came to a halt during the week of solid rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of halts
Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Should any of these conditions not be met, the contract halts and notifies all relevant parties.
—Matthew Kayser, Idaho Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026
Flights at New York City at LaGuardia Airport and JFK faced slight delays and halts Saturday afternoon.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2026
The latest order halts the use of a weapon, recognizable by its neon green handle, that has been used by police during recent protests to clear crowds after demonstrations were declared unlawful.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
The passing of the deadline will trigger a period of status quo, in which the current CBA remains in place until either the league and the union reach a new deal or one side halts negotiations.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
States also face decisions on tax cuts The federal law temporarily halts federal income taxes on tips and overtime pay, provides new tax deductions for seniors and some people with auto loans, and enacts numerous new corporate tax breaks.
—David A. Lieb, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The order temporarily halts enforcement of the law on cruise ships while the appeals process moves forward, her email noted.
—CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
Judge halts end of deportation protections for South Sudanese.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Sarah Jacob, Bloomberg, 14 Jan. 2026
Conflict in Yemen has prompted air traffic halts — leaving about 600 tourists stranded on a remote island.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The fact that any soliloquy halts dramatic action also poses a challenge.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
Verb
Stanton demonstrates his battery by shorting the coils, which halts the pendulum due to the magnetic field’s braking effect.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Should any of these conditions not be met, the contract halts and notifies all relevant parties.
—Matthew Kayser, Idaho Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026
Flights at New York City at LaGuardia Airport and JFK faced slight delays and halts Saturday afternoon.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2026
The latest order halts the use of a weapon, recognizable by its neon green handle, that has been used by police during recent protests to clear crowds after demonstrations were declared unlawful.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
The passing of the deadline will trigger a period of status quo, in which the current CBA remains in place until either the league and the union reach a new deal or one side halts negotiations.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
States also face decisions on tax cuts The federal law temporarily halts federal income taxes on tips and overtime pay, provides new tax deductions for seniors and some people with auto loans, and enacts numerous new corporate tax breaks.
—David A. Lieb, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The order temporarily halts enforcement of the law on cruise ships while the appeals process moves forward, her email noted.
—CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
Judge halts end of deportation protections for South Sudanese.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Noun
The abrupt disruption resulted in chip shortages and production halts at several automakers.
—Sarah Jacob, Bloomberg, 14 Jan. 2026
Conflict in Yemen has prompted air traffic halts — leaving about 600 tourists stranded on a remote island.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The fact that any soliloquy halts dramatic action also poses a challenge.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for halts
Noun
-
Johnson has only nine jams per NBA shot tracking data, while Richardson has only four dunks this season.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Enjoy them raw in salads, smoothies, and juices, or up the beta carotene availability by cooking them into homemade jams, baked goods, sauces, marinades, or stews.—
Christina Manian,
Health,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Having killed Downey, Amos cuts one of his deadlocks and puts it in Axel’s little red book.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
-
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for reform of the Security Council's permanent members in his annual statement on the anniversary of the United Nations charter, arguing that the current establishment excludes key global voices and suffers from too many deadlocks.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Most of the time, breakups are supposed to be clean-cut endings—no second thoughts, no leftover feelings, and generally, no contact.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Even for those who are perfectly cast for Disney endings.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The two are, in many ways, at opposite ends of the Democratic Party’s big tent.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Seven-foot sophomore post Matas Vokietaitis is going through some growing pains on both ends.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a lot of deus ex machina resolution of tight binds, things that happen off-screen and are waved away.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The filing period for mayoral candidates in the June 2 primary closes at noon on Saturday.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
As the teams in pursuit of the Eastern Conference crown bolster their rosters ahead of Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline, the Knicks remain an active party in a number of discussions before the league’s deal-making window closes for business.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Winning from behind is not sustainable, and the predicaments in which Chelsea have found themselves this week point to other problems.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Rustin has slyly given her script a focus on women’s needs and feelings, a welcome departure for a genre that usually is more concerned about the men’s predicaments.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Halts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/halts. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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