Synonym Chooser

How is the word suspend distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of suspend are defer, postpone, and stay. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

When would defer be a good substitute for suspend?

While the synonyms defer and suspend are close in meaning, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

When can postpone be used instead of suspend?

Although the words postpone and suspend have much in common, postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

When might stay be a better fit than suspend?

The synonyms stay and suspend are sometimes interchangeable, but stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

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 suspend Stocks continued to decline Thursday amid Wall Street uncertainty around tariffs that were imposed on Canada and Mexico this week by President Donald Trump and later suspended. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025 In response to Wilson’s death, the university has suspended all membership intake for student organizations indefinitely. Melissa Noel, Essence, 6 Mar. 2025 While the warning was emphatic — and the accounts linked to the scheme were suspended — newer meme accounts promoting Stake have continued to pop up on the site. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2025 The American Bar Association (ABA) has voted to suspend its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) standard for law schools as the Trump administration looks to gut all programs and initiatives associated with DEI within the federal government. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suspend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspend
Verb
  • Billy Joel postpones his tour due to an undisclosed medical condition: ‘My health must come first.’ At Southwest Airlines, bags will no longer fly free. Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Billy Joel is postponing his tour for four months after surgery over an unspecified medical condition, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame artist announced Tuesday morning.
    Ethan Millman, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But Bright said there are many more projects in various stages of permitting by the federal government that have question marks hanging over them.
    Matt Egan, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
  • But along with the angry calls and Facebook messages, Vito’s has been praised and thanked for hanging the illustration.
    Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For example, a child who always interrupts or clings to a parent in social settings isn't necessarily being needy, but is rather unsure of their significance when the focus isn't on them.
    Reem Raouda, Contributor, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The play was interrupted by a controversial offsides call to end that threat.
    Chris Hays, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • As if on cue, the closed front door suddenly swings wide open on its own.
    Melinda Newman, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Shares of MicroStrategy swung from a 14% rally when the market opened to trading down more than 1.8% Monday afternoon.
    Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Judge Dale Ho adjourned the trial set to start in April, but is ordering both parties and an amicus curiae, or an impartial advisor, to consider whether the charges should be dismissed altogether.
    Adam Reiss, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Minnesota’s Secretary of State Steve Simon adjourned the state House after finding the chamber didn’t meet its 68-member quorum on Tuesday.
    Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Now as Putin is dangling business opportunities for US firms in Russia as a part of his US negotiations over Ukraine, Trump seems to be eager to make a deal.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, TIME, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Hurley, who attended the event alongside her son Damian, paired the gown with gold platform sandals, dangling gold earrings and a cross necklace.
    Marissa Muller, WWD, 23 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Suspend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspend. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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