put a stop to

VERB

belay

Synonyms

STRONG

arrest cancel cease check end halt quit stall stay

WEAK

bring to a standstill call a halt to

Antonyms

STRONG

advance allow begin commence continue go help permit start

VERB

cut short

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abort break off curtail halt hinder interrupt postpone quit shorten terminate

WEAK

abbreviate abridge break short bring to an end check checkmate clip diminish end finish freeze intercept leave unfinished stop stop cold stop dead stop short

Antonyms

STRONGEST

begin continue do forward increase lengthen persevere push start

WEAK

prolong

VERB

preclude

Synonyms

STRONGEST

avert cease deter exclude forestall hinder impede obviate prevent prohibit rule out

STRONG

check debar discontinue forfend interrupt quit restrain stop ward

WEAK

make impracticable stave off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

add advance aid allow assist encourage facilitate forward help include permit promote push support

STRONG

continue liberate

VERB

prevent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

avert avoid bar block counter forbid forestall halt hamper hinder impede inhibit limit preclude prohibit put an end to restrain restrict rule out stop thwart ward off

STRONG

anticipate arrest baffle balk check chill cool cork counteract dam debar foil forfend frustrate intercept interdict interrupt obstruct obviate repress retard

WEAK

dead-end defend against head off hold back hold off keep lid on nip in the bud shut out stave off turn aside

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advance aid allow approve assist continue encourage facilitate forward free help let go open permit promote push release support

STRONG

abet heat liberate warm

WEAK

cause

VERB

stave

Synonyms

STRONGEST

anticipate avert avoid counteract foil forestall halt hold off preclude put an end to rule out thwart ward off

STRONG

arrest baffle balk bar block check chill cool cork counter dam debar forbid forfend frustrate hamper hinder impede inhibit intercept interdict interrupt limit obstruct obviate prohibit repress restrain restrict retard stop ward

WEAK

defend against head off hold back keep lid on nip in the bud shut out stave off turn aside

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist forward help support

STRONG

abet advance allow approve continue encourage expedite facilitate free heat let go liberate open permit promote push release unblock warm

VERB

stop

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arrest avoid bar block break check close disrupt intercept interrupt stall stay stem suspend

STRONG

bottle choke clog congest fill fix forestall frustrate gag hinder hush impede muzzle obstruct occlude plug repress restrain seal silence staunch still stopper

WEAK

choke off cut off rein in shut down shut off shut out throw over turn off ward off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abet advance aid allow cause continue encourage go help let go open permit release

STRONG

assist clear disturb facilitate forward free liberate promote support unblock

WEAK

begin start

VERB

suspend

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adjourn arrest bar cease defer discontinue eject exclude file halt interrupt postpone put off reject rule out shelve stay waive withhold

STRONG

can check debar eliminate hang inactivate intermit omit pigeonhole procrastinate prorogue protract retard

WEAK

break up count out cut short hang fire hang up hold up lay aside lay off lay on the table lay over pink slip put an end to put on back burner put on hold put on ice put on the shelf stave off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accept add advance allow begin carry on carry out continue do encourage expedite forge forward go include keep on release

WEAK

complete finish persist sustain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By the 1920s, most states had put a stop to the practice.

From Salon • May 26, 2026

—In the U.S., futures pointed to gains at the open as stocks look to put a stop to three straight days of losses.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

Smog authorities put a stop to some of our dunderheaded pollution-generating self-owns.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Owens won’t put a stop to that—to her mind, anything could be possible, and she wants her audience pushing the narrative forward, no matter how ridiculous.

From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026

“There are so many rumors flying around, the army probably wants to put a stop to the panic.”

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

put a stop to

Example Sentences

Related Words