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 next

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

Examples 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 At the start of his first term, Mr. Trump temporarily suspended refugee resettlement, calling for a review of refugee processing to guard against security threats. —

Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jan. 2025 Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the Civil War, allowing detention without trial. —

Victor Menaldo, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025 The Heat have not publicly addressed the matter since, with the team’s game-by-game injury report simply listing Butler as suspended, a status due to change for Friday’s game. —

Ira Winderman, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025 But a couple hours later, the Heat suspended Butler for seven games! —

Zach Harper, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for suspend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspend

Verb

The team also had Thursday’s game against Charlotte postponed.

Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
The National Basketball Association said the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena was postponed due to the severe weather and hazardous icy conditions in the Atlanta area.

CBS News, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2025