discontinue

verb

ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-(ˌ)yü How to pronounce discontinue (audio)
Definition of discontinuenext
1
as in to cease
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end the editors were told to discontinue the printing of rumors in the student paper immediately

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to abandon
to stop doing (something) permanently we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to stop
to come to an end publication of the magazine will discontinue at the end of the year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word discontinue distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of discontinue are cease, desist, quit, and stop. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When might cease be a better fit than discontinue?

In some situations, the words cease and discontinue are roughly equivalent. However, 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 discontinue?

While the synonyms desist and discontinue are close in meaning, desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

When is it sensible to use quit instead of discontinue?

The meanings of quit and discontinue largely overlap; however, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

When could stop be used to replace discontinue?

The words stop and discontinue can be used in similar contexts, but stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

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 discontinue An airline can discontinue a flight route without Expedia’s consent. — Ted Ladd, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 The Supreme Court last year turned away a similar lawsuit filed by the group against Virginia Tech, which eventually discontinued its team. — Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 3 Mar. 2025 Within a year of discontinuing semaglutide, a group of 327 patients in the U.S., Europe and Japan regained two-thirds of weight lost while on the medication, one study found. — Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025 Since then, more than a dozen, mostly smaller Florida municipalities, including Winter Haven, Tavares, Longwood and Leesburg, have voted to discontinue adding fluoride to their water. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for discontinue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discontinue
  1. cease
  2. abandon
  3. stop
  4. halt
  5. quit
  6. end
  7. expire
  8. conclude
Verb
  • The program ended in the early 1960s after a member of the CIA Inspector General's staff learned of MKUltra's experiments and ordered them to cease all experimentation on non-consenting subjects.
    — Jessica Sager, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
  • On Thursday, the university, a historically Black institution, ordered the fraternity chapter to cease all activities and suspended pledging for all Greek organizations for the rest of the academic year.
    — Neil Vigdor, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of cease
Verb
  • The decision, however, has been the subject of apparent criticism from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, who have claimed Williams and Wilmore were abandoned by the Biden administration.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The mission drew political attention when Trump and Musk vowed to speed up the astronauts' return and accused former president Joe Biden's administration of abandoning the astronauts.
    — David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of abandon
Verb
  • The water tank is a great place to stop and eat a pack lunch.
    — John Meyer, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Here are 3 reasons why leaders – political as well as corporate – should stop talking about themselves and others as players in a game.
    — Pia Lauritzen, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • After court battles earlier this month, a federal judge temporarily halted Hoffman's execution by nitrogen gas last week, issuing a preliminary injunction to stop the state from immediately carrying out his death sentence.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Judge Boasberg temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using the law on Sunday, halting deportations for at least 14 days and directed that flights already in the air be turned around.
    — Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of halt
Verb
  • This is crucial, as 1 in 3 workers report having quit a role due to not aligning with the viewpoints of an organization’s leadership.
    — Sander van ‘t Noordende, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • At the time, Mitsuda was even threatening to quit at Square completely if he wasn’t given the chance to compose a game.
    — Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of quit
Verb
  • Ukraine considers its hold on Kursk to be crucial to use as leverage in any negotiations to end the war.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Armed with what seemed to be their best opportunity to end a 34-year absence from the big dance, the No. 1 seed Tigers couldn’t keep up with No. 12 seed Delaware’s second-half outburst and fell, 82-72, in a Coastal Athletic Association Tournament semifinal Monday night at CareFirst Arena.
    — Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of end
Verb
  • Accounts or sessions should automatically expire after their set duration.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • And flight credits for tickets purchased on or after May 28 will expire in one year, or earlier, depending on the type of fare purchased.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of expire
Verb
  • The tournament begins with the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio, and concludes with the championship showdown in San Antonio, Texas.
    — Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 18 Mar. 2025
  • After weeks of tense deliberations, the trial concluded on July 1, 2024.
    — Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of conclude

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Cite this Entry

“Discontinue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discontinue. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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