SUSPEND Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

suspend

verb

sə-ˈspend

Definition of suspend

as in to postpone

to bring to a formal close for a period of time the judge suspended the hearing to give the district attorney more time to process evidence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to hang

to place on an elevated point without support from below suspended a banner proclaiming the town's "Heritage Days" from the archway

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The draft also bars other federal departments, agencies, and officials from suspending a model’s development, deployment, or internal use. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 The league initially suspended Jackson for two games for striking Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb in the face on the field after the Rams’ defeat. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 In contrast, the ad says Desmond fought to lower costs and supports suspending the gas tax. — Kevin Freking, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 Val Chmerkovskiy has been suspended from Dancing with the Stars for one week after making an inappropriate comment toward one of the judges last week. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suspend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspend

Verb

In Madera, organizers postponed the third annual Oaxacan Guelaguetza festival, amid growing fears, according to the group’s Facebook account.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
In February, the Louvre postponed a competition to select an architect in charge of expanding the museum that had been announced less than a year prior.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of postpone

Verb

Things certainly aren’t going well when your defensive coordinator’s name is emblazoned across bedsheets hanging from your school’s fraternity windows, calling for his firing.

— Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
The looming fear of job loss hangs over an entire generation.

— Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of hang

Verb

The hearing at Southwark Crown Court was adjourned until Tuesday after a morning of jury selection.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Vollmann and Defoe adjourned with many people from the reading to the patio of Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse in Southside Park, after Vollmann invited everyone as the event closed.

— Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of adjourn

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suspects

suspend

suspended

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“Suspend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspend. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of suspend

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