1
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
2
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
3
4
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
5
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
as in terminable
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of terminate
Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021
ChristianaCare, the state’s largest health care system and largest private employer, has stated that all employees must receive the first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 21, or the health system with terminate workers who don’t unless given an exemption.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2021
Salvador Rodriguez, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
In Congressional District 12, which stretches along the East Bay from Albany to San Leandro, federal grants have been terminated which support higher education, infrastructure and job training, according to the DOE.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terminate
Verb
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
ChristianaCare, the state’s largest health care system and largest private employer, has stated that all employees must receive the first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 21, or the health system with terminate workers who don’t unless given an exemption.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2021
Adjective
Microsoft has also terminated several activist employees who protested the company’s work with the Israeli military.
—Salvador Rodriguez, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
In Congressional District 12, which stretches along the East Bay from Albany to San Leandro, federal grants have been terminated which support higher education, infrastructure and job training, according to the DOE.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terminate
Verb
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Trump then boarded Air Force One without speaking the the media, ending his consequential tour of Asia.—
Betsy Klein,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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His tenure ended after consecutive losses to his former Notre Dame defensive coordinators Clark Lea (now the Vanderbilt head coach) and Mike Elko (Texas A&M), putting him at 34-14 in Baton Rouge.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The former instantly adds a second layer of security against unwanted guests, and the latter emits an ultra-loud alarm while acting like a door stop wedge, scaring off any stranger who tries to enter your room.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
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And Los Angeles did not stop there.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The fallout from all this has defined an especially dramatic week in Spanish football.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Its artistic yet pragmatic nature also defines Valladolid’s role as a place of discovery platform, a prestige auteurs’ hub just weeks after San Sebastián — and a bridge for awards-season exposure.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Trump was close to Abe, who was assassinated after leaving office.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
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After he was assassinated in September at Utah Valley University, the first stop on his tour, TPUSA announced Carlson would speak at IU instead.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Scientists have developed a new method that removes toxic pollutants from wastewater.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
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Its unique formula can remove stains, dissolve adhesives, and cut through soap scum and grease.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Indefinite employment terminable only for cause had existed as early as the founding of Harvard College in 1650.—
Time,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
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These transfers can be made to trusts, such as qualified terminable interest property trust which can be relatively simple and inexpensive to create and also defer estate tax on unlimited wealth.—
Martin Shenkman,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The fourth inning started with a single by Kirk, concluding an eight-pitch at-bat immediately prior to Varsho’s homer.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Archaeologists concluded the structure was actually a false tomb, or a cenotaph, a type of burial monument erected to honor a deceased person buried elsewhere.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a filing on Friday, the nearly-defunct federal body sought summary judgment in NPR’s lawsuit against the organization over its decision to appropriate funding for satellite distribution to a select group of NPR member stations before the CPB ceases operations.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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Congress failed to pass a budget or temporary funding measure before the federal fiscal year ended on October 1, forcing many federal agencies to cease all non-mandatory operations.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terminate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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