terminate 1 of 2

1
as in to end
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to define
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

4
5

terminate

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb terminate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of terminate are close, complete, conclude, end, and finish. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

When might close be a better fit than terminate?

While the synonyms close and terminate are close in meaning, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When is complete a more appropriate choice than terminate?

The meanings of complete and terminate largely overlap; however, complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Where would conclude be a reasonable alternative to terminate?

The words conclude and terminate can be used in similar contexts, but conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

When can end be used instead of terminate?

In some situations, the words end and terminate are roughly equivalent. However, end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

In what contexts can finish take the place of terminate?

The synonyms finish and terminate are sometimes interchangeable, but finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

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 terminate
Verb
ChristianaCare, the state’s largest health care system and largest private employer, has stated that all employees must receive the first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 21, or the health system with terminate workers who don’t unless given an exemption. From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2021 That control gave Puglisi the sole authority to set up new credit card accounts, change spending limits, manage card access and terminate accounts. Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021
Adjective
The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed President Trump to terminate, without cause, President Biden's appointees to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Nina Totenberg, NPR, 23 July 2025 Dustin Mulvaney, professor of environmental studies at SJSU, had two grants from the NSF and Environmental Protection Agency terminated. Naomi Kotani, Mercury News, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for terminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terminate
Verb
  • Last year, Kennedy ended his independent bid for president during an Arizona visit and endorsed President Donald Trump.
    Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 22 July 2025
  • Within two hours of the meeting ending, send a summary, not a transcript.
    Ishaan Agarwal, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • Shortly after Braun’s executive order, the Indiana Department of Health told local health departments to stop accepting requests to change genders on birth certificates.
    Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 24 July 2025
  • But, the good news, Wolf says, is that steroid treatments can stop the progression of the disease.
    Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • Digital Transformation Propelled by Emerging Technologies Significant technical innovation is defining the transformative digital age.
    Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Injuries would define the latter stages of her career, resulting in a loss of form and a drop in the rankings.
    Lukas Weese, New York Times, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • The next day, J.F.K. was assassinated, spawning decades of conspiracy theories.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 18 July 2025
  • The country’s intelligence services failed to prevent Israel from assassinating many top military officials, and now the Iranian regime is lashing out in all directions.
    Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 17 July 2025
Verb
  • One of the first things the trust did was remove the plants.
    Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
  • El Salvador’s legislature approved constitutional amendments removing term limits, potentially allowing its President Nayib Bukele to rule for life.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • These transfers can be made to trusts, such as qualified terminable interest property trust which can be relatively simple and inexpensive to create and also defer estate tax on unlimited wealth.
    Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Another type of trust to consider in this situation would be a qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) trust.
    Liz Weston, oregonlive, 6 Aug. 2023
Verb
  • At a two-day meeting that concludes Wednesday, the Fed is widely expected to hold its key interest rate steady despite President Donald Trump’s monthslong campaign aimed at browbeating Fed Chair Jerome Powell and his colleagues into cutting rates.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 28 July 2025
  • Metallica is slated to kick off their 2026 M72 World Tour in the late spring, which will conclude in the early summer on July 5th, 2026.
    Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Verb
  • Which is yet another reason for politicians to cease trying to corrupt the brilliance of freely arrived at price signals.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
  • Historic vote guts public media nationally On May 1, Trump issued an executive order instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the private nonprofit that manages the federal money for public media, to cease funding of NPR and PBS.
    Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 30 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Terminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terminate. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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