Word Type

Verb

The word "desist" can be used as a verb.

Word Relationships

Derived Terms

desistance desistive desistor undesisting

Broader Terms (Hypernyms)

choose end opt prefer

Narrower Terms (Hyponyms)

arrest call it a day call it a night call it quits deactivate draw stumps power down pull up stumps quit shut off stem the tide stop short stop talking surrender switch off turn off

Related Terms

avast cease and desist delay hang fire intermit interpel pause wait

Related Terms

cease cease and desist from stop

Synonym Network

abstain

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.