Synonyms and antonyms of To stop something from continuing or developing in British Thesaurus

interfere with ()

to prevent something from happening or developing in the correct way

inhibit (verb)

to make it difficult for a process to start or continue in a normal way

disrupt (verb)

to interrupt something and prevent it from continuing by creating a problem

hamper (verb)

to prevent something from happening or progressing normally

cramp (verb)

to prevent something from developing as successfully as it could

scotch (verb)

to stop something from continuing before it has a chance to develop more

stifle (verb)

to stop something from developing normally

strangle (verb)

to stop the development of something, especially an economy

hobble (verb)

to prevent something developing or being successful

abort (verb)

to stop something before it is finished, for example because it would be difficult or dangerous to continue

frustrate (verb)

legal if you frustrate a contract or other agreement, you make it impossible to fulfil

arrest (verb)

formal to stop a process from continuing, especially to stop a bad situation from getting worse

blow a hole in something ()

to damage a plan or idea so that it cannot succeed, or so that people no longer believe it

break (verb)

to stop a bad situation from continuing

burn your boats/bridges ()

to do something that makes it impossible for you to return to the situation you were in before

bust (verb)

informal to stop an activity or organization from continuing to happen or exist

choke (verb)

to stop someone or something from developing or being successful

clog (verb)

to slow down progress or an activity

close the book on something ()

to end something unpleasant that has been continuing for a long time

confine (verb)

to prevent something dangerous from spreading

contain (verb)

to prevent something harmful from spreading to other people or places

control (verb)

to prevent something harmful from spreading or becoming more dangerous

control (verb)

to prevent something from increasing too much or too quickly

crimp (verb)

Americaninformal to prevent something from increasing or developing

cut (verb)

to stop the supply of something, or to stop something working

cut into ()

to interrupt an activity or process

cut something short ()

to make something last for less time than planned

derail (verb)

mainly journalism to prevent something from continuing in the way that it was planned

disconnect (verb)

to stop the supply of gas, water, or electricity, or the telephone service to a building

extinguish (verb)

mainly literary to stop a feeling or idea from continuing to exist

freeze (verb)

to legally stop a supply of money from being available to someone

frustrate (verb)

to prevent someone or something from succeeding

gum up the works (British)

British to stop a process from working smoothly

halt (verb)

mainly journalism if you halt something, or if it halts, it does not continue or develop any further

hinder (verb)

to stop someone or something from making progress or developing

hold back ()

to stop something from progressing or developing as it should

hold down ()

to prevent something from developing, or to prevent someone from doing what they want

interrupt (verb)

to make something stop for a period of time

interrupt (verb)

formal if something interrupts something such as a line or a surface, it stops it from being continuous

intervene (verb)

to delay an event, or to make it difficult to do

kill (verb)

to stop something from continuing

kill off ()

to stop, get rid of, or destroy something

nip something in the bud ()

to stop a bad situation from becoming worse by taking action at an early stage of its development

paralyse (verb)

to make something unable to operate normally

paralyze ()

the American spelling of paralyse

pull the plug (on something) ()

to stop an activity, especially by no longer providing the money needed to allow it to continue

put the kibosh on something ()

to do something that spoils someone’s plans

put the mockers on (British)

Britishinformal to prevent something from happening, or to spoil someone’s plans

put the skids on/under something ()

to cause something to fail, or to stop it from continuing to happen

quash (verb)

formal to stop something from continuing

quell (verb)

formal to cause a violent situation to end

retard (verb)

formal to slow down or delay the development or progress of something

sabotage (verb)

to deliberately stop someone from achieving something, or to deliberately prevent a plan or process from being successful

scrap (verb)

informal to decide not to continue with something such as a plan or an event

scratch (verb)

informal to decide not to continue with something such as a plan or a project

scuttle (verb)

to make a plan, agreement, attempt etc fail or stop

shelve (verb)

to decide not to use something such as a plan or suggestion now, although you may use it later

short-circuit (verb)

mainly American to prevent something such as a career, plan, process etc from being successful

shut off ()

to stop the flow of something, usually water or electricity

snuff out ()

to make something end quickly, especially by using force

squeeze out ()

if one business or part of a system squeezes out another, the first one becomes so important or successful, or takes up so much time, that the other cannot succeed or continue to exist

stamp on ()

to stop something by taking determined action

stamp out ()

to end something bad or unpleasant by taking strong and determined action

staunch (verb)

to stop the flow of something, especially blood

stem (verb)

formal to stop liquid from flowing

stop something in its tracks ()

to prevent something from continuing

stunt someone’s/something’s growth ()

to stop someone or something from growing

stymie (verb)

informal to stop someone from achieving an aim, or to stop some process from continuing

suffocate (verb)

to prevent a relationship, business, skill etc from developing in a positive way

suppress (verb)

to stop an activity, especially by making laws or by using your authority

suppress (verb)

to stop a physical process from happening or developing

suspend (verb)

to officially stop something for a short time

suspend (verb)

to officially remove the authority or effectiveness of something for a time

throttle (verb)

to create problems that make it very difficult for something to continue or to develop

throw/put a spanner in the works (British)

British to do something that suddenly stops a process or plan

upset (verb)

to make something stop working in the normal way

wash out ()

if rain washes out an event, it prevents it from taking place or from continuing

wreck (verb)

to damage something such as a plan or a relationship so badly that it no longer exists