QUIT Synonyms: 352 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'quit' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of quit are cease , desist , discontinue , and stop . While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing. // the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

Q: When is it sensible to use 'cease' instead of 'quit'?

The words cease and quit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Q: When is 'desist' a more appropriate choice than 'quit'?

While the synonyms desist and quit are close in meaning, desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing. // desisted from further efforts to persuade them

Q: When would 'discontinue' be a good substitute for 'quit'?

While in some cases nearly identical to quit , discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice. // we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

Q: When could 'stop' be used to replace 'quit'?

In some situations, the words stop and quit are roughly equivalent. However, stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness. // stopped at the red light

quit 1 of 2

verb

ˈkwit

Definition of quit next

as in to leave

to give up (a job or office) he decided to quit his job at the fast-food restaurant

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to abandon

to stop doing (something) permanently her doctor told her it was high time she quit smoking

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as in to stop

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end quit pestering your coworkers with pointless questions

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as in to forsake

to cause to remain behind he quit the house sometime around nine this morning and hasn't been seen since

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as in to succumb

to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) tried to persuade his daughter to remain at home, but eventually he just quit and let her go out on her own

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as in to cease

to come to an end will this teasing ever quit?

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as in to pay

to give what is owed for eager to quit all debts before starting married life

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repudiate

as in to depart

to leave a place often for another we plan to quit the amusement park around seven tonight and then head to the diner for some food

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as in to behave

to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way I thought the kids quitted themselves quite well at the concert tonight

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quit

2 of 2

adjective

as in free

no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful I am finally quit of that terrible task

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word quit distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of quit are cease, desist, discontinue, and stop. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

When is it sensible to use cease instead of quit?

The words cease and quit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 is desist a more appropriate choice than quit?

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

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

When would discontinue be a good substitute for quit?

While in some cases nearly identical to quit, discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When could stop be used to replace quit?

In some situations, the words stop and quit are roughly equivalent. However, stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

Examples 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 quit

Verb

Hugh Hewitt has quit as a contributing columnist to The Washington Post, after storming out of a Post live event Friday morning over an argument regarding former President Trump’s criticism of elections in Bucks County, Pa. —

Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 1 Nov. 2024 Hiring activity has slipped, employees aren’t quitting their jobs as freely as before and job openings rates are mirroring those seen in 2018 and 2019, according to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. —

Alicia Wallace, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024 Yet the risk reductions in metabolic diseases associated with sugar rationing in early life are massive, on par with the effects of lifelong vegetarianism or quitting cigarettes. —

Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 31 Oct. 2024 This has been met with significant pushback from employees; one survey found that 73% of Amazon employees are considering quitting because of the mandate. —

Sanjay Sathe, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for quit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for quit

Verb

The Lakers were already down several bodies in their frontcourt, with Christian Wood (offseason left knee surgery) and Jarred Vanderbilt (offseason feet surgery) sidelined, leaving two-way center Christian Koloko as the only available big man behind Davis.

Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 13 Nov. 2024
The callers reported seeing a man armed with a gun fleeing a silver sedan that was left disabled in a parking lot, authorities said.

Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024