stop 1 of 2

verb

ˈstäp How to pronounce stop (audio)
Definition of stopnext
1
as in to cease
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end the manufacturer will stop selling the toy and will immediately recall all the units that have already been sold

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to halt
to bring (something) to a standstill traffic was stopped for over an hour by the overturned truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fill
to close up so that no empty spaces remain I stopped the mouse hole with plaster

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to end
to come to an end the music stopped but we kept on dancing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to overcome
to achieve a victory over they were eventually stopped by the best team in the league

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stop

2 of 2

noun

1
as in break
a brief halt in a journey our guide called for a stop at the trail hut so we could eat and rest a bit

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2
as in station
a regular stopping place had lunch on a picnic table at a shady rest stop along the highway

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3
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult pulled out all the stops and presented the most spectacular show ever

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in halt
the stopping of a process or activity put a stop to this nonsense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stop distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of stop are cease, desist, discontinue, and quit. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

In what contexts can cease take the place of stop?

While in some cases nearly identical to stop, cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality.

by nightfall the fighting had ceased

When can desist be used instead of stop?

In some situations, the words desist and stop are roughly equivalent. However, desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

When could discontinue be used to replace stop?

The meanings of discontinue and stop largely overlap; however, discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When is quit a more appropriate choice than stop?

Although the words quit and stop have much in common, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stop
Verb
Start at the Milwaukee Art Museum, follow the lakefront to Veterans Park, stop at local favorite Colectivo Coffee, continue through McKinley Park, and finish at Bradford Beach. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026 Her reasons are unclear but her mother Susana will do everything in her power to stop her. —Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 19 May 2026
Noun
Guests at Six Flags Over Texas were seen evacuating one of the park’s tallest roller coasters after a power outage brought the ride to a sudden stop over the weekend. —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026 The family-friendly event has become a popular summer stop for visitors looking to sample dozens of different dishes in one place. —Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for stop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stop
  1. cease
  2. halt
  3. fill
  4. end
  5. overcome
  6. break
  7. station
  8. obstacle
Verb
  • Key indicators include clients engaging more with competitors, ceasing to credit your work in their successes, and offering delayed or forced responses to communications.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • After making a batch, production ceased a few weeks ago.
    — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 18 May 2026
Definition of cease
Verb
  • The new honey-gold edition continues to use this innovation, which allows the tourbillon to be halted at any moment by an arresting spring, regardless of the position of the balance or cage, enabling precise, one-second time setting.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
  • The land was dedicated as a park in 2008, but the Great Recession halted city spending on the project.
    — Mark Dee May 15, Idaho Statesman, 15 May 2026
Definition of halt
Verb
  • Poulin has long been considered the best women’s hockey player in the world, with a trophy case filled with individual and team achievements, most notably three Olympic gold medals won on her stick.
    — Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 21 May 2026
  • What to do nearby There's no shortage of nearby activities worth filling your San Juan itinerary.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
Definition of fill
Verb
  • For the week ending May 17, 2026 Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
  • On the morning of April 8th, there was reason to believe that the waiting might end.
    — Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
Definition of end
Verb
  • The project comes on the heels of filmmaker Nina Lee and Will Packer discussing the rarity of You, Me & Tuscany alongside the hardships and hurdles that Black romance films must overcome in the industry from conception to funding to box office.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 19 May 2026
  • Despite the hurdles that must be overcome, many experts are pretty jazzed about the possibility of a lunar nuclear reactor.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
Definition of overcome
Noun
  • From breezy linen pants to packable layers and day-to-night dresses, these pieces are designed to keep you cool and stylish on city breaks and tropical getaways alike.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2026
  • Divers found the boy within a few minutes of starting their search along the break wall.
    — Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Definition of break
Noun
  • Food and drink All-day restaurant Pure serves up a sprawling breakfast buffet complete with omelette and pancake stations, heaving tropical fruit platters, and baked goods galore, including Polynesian treats like coconut bread.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
  • Some local stations in Richmond and Salt Lake City dropped the show following viewer outcry.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Definition of station
Noun
  • But as the necessities of their jobs begin to push them farther apart, truckdriving becomes a serious obstacle to their budding relationship.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
  • The incidents involving contact with chains, trailer hitches, poles, and curbs indicate recurring limitations in detecting smaller or irregular obstacles, especially during reversing maneuvers.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
Definition of obstacle

Phrases Containing stop

Browse Nearby Words

stoop (to)
stop
stop (by)
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Cite this Entry

“Stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stop. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stop

Nglish: Translation of stop for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stop

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