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Definitions

stop up

VERB
block
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arrest bar blockade clog close close off cut off deter halt hinder hold up impede intercept prevent stall stop thwart
STRONG
barricade brake catch charge check choke congest dam dead-end fill occlude plug stonewall stopper stymie tackle
WEAK
block out close out hang up interfere with shut off shut out take out of play
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist begin continue encourage facilitate forward further give help let go open permit promote push release start support unstop
STRONG
free liberate unblock
WEAK
let up
VERB
clog
Synonyms
STRONGEST
choke congest fill hamper impede obstruct plug seal
STRONG
burden close curb encumber fetter glut jam leash occlude shackle stopper stuff tie trammel
WEAK
dam up entrammel
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist help promote support
STRONG
free let go loose loosen release
WEAK
clear open unblock unclog unencumber unstop
VERB
close
Synonyms
STRONGEST
block shut shutter
STRONG
bang bar bolt button caulk choke clap clench clog confine congest cork dam exclude fasten fill lock occlude plug screen secure slam stopper stuff
WEAK
prevent passage put to retard flow shut off turn off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
open
STRONG
allow free let go liberate loose loosen permit release unblock unclog unfasten unlock
WEAK
unclose unplug unseal unstop
VERB
dam
Synonyms
STRONGEST
clog
STRONG
bar barricade brake check choke close confine hinder impede obstruct repress restrain restrict retard slow suppress
WEAK
hold in
Antonyms
STRONG
advance aid allow assist encourage facilitate forward free help let go liberate open permit promote push release support
WEAK
unblock unclog unloose
VERB
occlude
Synonyms
STRONG
choke clog close congest curb fill hinder impede obstruct plug seal shut stopper throttle
WEAK
close out leave out lock out
Antonyms
STRONG
advance aid assist clear encourage facilitate forward free help open promote release support unblock unplug unseal unstop
WEAK
allow permit
VERB
seal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
close enclose isolate plug secure shut stop
STRONG
cork fasten gum paste plaster quarantine segregate stopper waterproof
Antonyms
STRONGEST
begin continue let go open release start unplug
WEAK
delay loosen put off refuse unseal

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.

Greed also causes overleveraging: You keep adding to a winning position without moving your stop up to protect profits, then suddenly bad news hits, and what was your biggest winner yesterday wipes you out today.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 28, 2026

In the ninth, Suarez hit a two-out double off Jose Leclerc, but Nathaniel Lowe made a diving stop up the line at first base stop a hard-hit grounder Dominic Canzone’s bat.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 24, 2023

"I now put the food away when I go to bed, but in the morning I've found the towel I've used to stop up the gap is pulled out and chewed too."

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2023

And so we let crickets be crickets and I stop up my ears.

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2022

I needed something to stop up the opening so Yeller couldn’t get out.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.