quit cold turkey

VERB

cease

Synonyms

STRONGEST

break off desist discontinue fail halt quit refrain terminate

STRONG

close culminate die drop end finish intermit stay surcease

WEAK

back off bring to an end call it a day call it quits close out come to an end cut it out give over knock off leave off pack in shut down wind up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

begin carry on complete continue do persevere restart start

STRONG

bear commence create open

WEAK

go initiate keep on

VERB

relinquish

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abandon abdicate cede drop out forgo hand over quit renounce surrender vacate waive withdraw yield

STRONG

abnegate cast desert discard ditch drop dump forbear forsake forswear kick leave release repudiate resign sacrifice shed

WEAK

back down cast off cut loose drop like hot potato kiss good-bye lay aside opt out retire from stand down swear off take the oath take the pledge

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow assert claim continue defend fight hold keep remain retain stay win

STRONG

gather maintain revert take up

WEAK

take

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.

But he and his wife Jean quit cold turkey when their daughter Mary came along.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2022

The lifelong smoker decided to quit cold turkey at age 50 and vowed to run a marathon.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2022

She now wants to quit cold turkey because she didn’t get what she wanted.

From Slate • Jun. 10, 2020

“It’s not quit cold turkey, but it’s monitor, measure and adjust.”

From Washington Post • Nov. 28, 2019

He quit cold turkey on New Year’s Eve, 1972.

From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2019