TERMINATE Synonyms: 216 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'terminate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of terminate are close , complete , conclude , end , and finish . While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space. // your employment terminates after three months

Q: When might 'close' be a better fit than 'terminate'?

While the synonyms close and terminate are close in meaning, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished. // close a debate

Q: When is 'complete' a more appropriate choice than 'terminate'?

The meanings of complete and terminate largely overlap; however, complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken. // the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Q: Where would 'conclude' be a reasonable alternative to 'terminate'?

The words conclude and terminate can be used in similar contexts, but conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting). // the service concluded with a blessing

Q: When can 'end' be used instead of 'terminate'?

In some situations, the words end and terminate are roughly equivalent. However, end conveys a strong sense of finality. // ended his life

Q: In what contexts can 'finish' take the place of 'terminate'?

The synonyms finish and terminate are sometimes interchangeable, but finish may stress completion of a final step in a process. // after it is painted, the house will be finished

terminate 1 of 2

verb

ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt

Definition of terminate

as in to end

to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point we need to terminate the discussion for this evening, but we'll resume tomorrow morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stop

to come to an end this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to define

to mark the limits of terminated the area set aside for the runners to change their clothes with a series of folding screens

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to assassinate

to put to death deliberately the operative's covert mission was to terminate the leader of the opposition

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to remove

to let go from office, service, or employment he was terminated for constantly coming in to work late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

terminate

2 of 2

adjective

as in terminable

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb terminate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of terminate are close, complete, conclude, end, and finish. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

When might close be a better fit than terminate?

While the synonyms close and terminate are close in meaning, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When is complete a more appropriate choice than terminate?

The meanings of complete and terminate largely overlap; however, complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Where would conclude be a reasonable alternative to terminate?

The words conclude and terminate can be used in similar contexts, but conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

When can end be used instead of terminate?

In some situations, the words end and terminate are roughly equivalent. However, end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

In what contexts can finish take the place of terminate?

The synonyms finish and terminate are sometimes interchangeable, but finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

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 terminate

Verb

The nine plaintiffs represent the latest in a growing number of former FBI agents and other personnel who have filed lawsuits against the Justice Department and the bureau after they were abruptly terminated. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Healthcare systems and physician practices frequently terminate carrier contracts. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

Adjective

That control gave Puglisi the sole authority to set up new credit card accounts, change spending limits, manage card access and terminate accounts. — Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021 See All Example Sentences for terminate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for terminate

Verb

The second was collapsing supermassive stars, which end their lives as supernovae.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
But little progress has been made towards implementing a deal to end the conflict that includes terms for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its troops.

— Reuters, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of end

Verb

That has left many companies unable to stop the theft of American IP and made investment riskier.

— Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Project Nessie was intended to stop retail price-matching practices from creating unsustainably low prices, the e-commerce giant said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of stop

Verb

Get timely insight into the cases, rulings, and constitutional questions defining America’s legal landscape.

— Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
The postwar model of a large welfare and regulatory state, run by a class of civil servants charged with modernizing the economy, tempering market forces and defining the common good, has run its course.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of define

Verb

This is where Catto was assassinated 155 years ago during a tumultuous Election Day in 1871.

— Timothy Welbeck, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026
The plot included plans to assassinate the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and his vice president, Geraldo Alckmin.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of assassinate

Verb

The full court reheard the case in January 2024, and in October 2024 ruled 9-8 that the NLRB had no power to order the tweet removed, citing the First Amendment.

— Heather Occhino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, according to a USFWS spokesperson, around 30 million lbs of invasive carp are removed from Midwestern waters each year.

— Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of remove

Verb

Both the United States and a United Nations investigation concluded that the shootdown happened over international waters.

— Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
The arrest, the official explained, came after the Attorney General’s Office concluded that there had been misconduct in an April operation in which state officials dismantled a clandestine drug-manufacturing laboratory.

— Mauricio Torres, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of conclude

Verb

And Gartner estimates that 80% of neocloud providers will cease independent operations by 2030 because their revenues won’t cover their outgoings.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Research firm Gartner published a report on Wednesday forecasting that over 80% of neocloud providers will cease operations by 2030, due to costs and lack of a unique business model.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of cease

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terminals

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Style

“Terminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terminate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of terminate

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Synonyms of terminate

verb

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

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Articles Related to terminate

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