terminate

[tur-muh-neyt] / ˈtɜr məˌneɪt /

VERB

stop, finish

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish abort adjourn annul cancel cease complete conclude cut off determine discharge discontinue dismiss dissolve eliminate expire halt put an end to recess restrict sack wrap up

STRONG

achieve bounce bound close confine define desist drop end extinguish fire issue lapse limit perfect prorogue result scratch scrub tether wrap

WEAK

bring to an end come to an end prorogate run out ultimate wind down wind up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accept allow begin carry on commence continue employ encourage engage establish hire hold introduce keep keep on permit ratify start uphold welcome

STRONG

bear create free go on let go release restart schedule set up

WEAK

initiate open

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.

IRS officials who receive illegal requests to terminate audits must report them or face possible criminal prosecution, and experts warn that the agency's employees could now be at legal risk.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

In a new filing Friday, they requested that the Board of Immigration Appeals, part of the US Department of Justice, re-open Khalil's case and terminate it.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

These consents, after all, are legal agreements that terminate a biological parent’s legal claim to a child and vest those rights in non-biological parents.

From Slate • May 13, 2026

The lawyer for Syrians challenging the determination said federal law required the Homeland Security Secretary to consult the State Department about conditions in a foreign state before deciding whether to terminate a program.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

My mom was the youngest of the lot, but when my grandmother was pregnant with her, she debated whether she should terminate the pregnancy.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Vocabulary lists containing terminate

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The Monroe Doctrine (1823)

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