cease-fire
Halt to hostilities
A cease-fire is an agreement to stop fighting, usually temporary and often preceding formal peace negotiations.
Military forces observe a cease-fire while diplomats work toward lasting resolution: Both sides agreed to a cease-fire during the holiday.
The term applies to any suspension of hostilities, from international conflicts to gang truces.
Also spelled ceasefire.
Agreed halt to hostilities
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- accordHarmony between parties
- pactFormal agreement between parties
settlement · protocol · concordat · convention · terms · compact · deal · arrangement
Complete sudden stop
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- lullTemporary period of quiet
- respiteShort pause from hardship
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
intermission · hiatus · standstill · breather · reprieve · recess · interlude · break
Negotiation between nations
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- talksSpeaks with others
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
dialogue · arbitration · envoy · summit · broker · peacekeeping · intervention · parley
Easing of strained relations
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- coexistenceSimultaneous presence together
- nonviolencePrincipled rejection of force
pacifism · amity · rapprochement · normalization · de-escalation · disarmament · demilitarization · peacetime
truce
Agreed halt to hostilities
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- accordHarmony between parties
pact · settlement · protocol · concordat · convention · terms · compact · deal · arrangement · understanding
halt
Complete sudden stop
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- lullTemporary period of quiet
- respiteShort pause from hardship
moratorium · intermission · hiatus · standstill · breather · reprieve · recess · interlude · break · temporary
diplomacy
Negotiation between nations
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- talksSpeaks with others
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
conciliation · dialogue · arbitration · envoy · summit · broker · peacekeeping · intervention · parley · delegate
détente
Easing of strained relations
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- coexistenceSimultaneous presence together
nonviolence · pacifism · amity · rapprochement · normalization · de-escalation · disarmament · demilitarization · peacetime · reconstruction
warfare
Armed conflict between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- fightingEngaging in physical conflict
shelling · bombing · military · offensive · siege · frontline · skirmish · crossfire · bombardment · incursion
- Global Politicsforeign affairs, international affairs, global affairs, world politics, foreign relations
- wartimerationing, war economy, war bonds, war effort, evacuations
- peacemakingnegotiation, mediation, peace agreement, mediate, pacifying
- reconciliationreconciliation, reconcile, reconciled, reconciling, making up
- Global DiplomacyUN, United Nations, embassy, NATO, NATO summit
- Gulf WarDesert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Gulf War, Saddam Hussein
cease-firehostilities
Active armed fighting
warfare · combat · fighting · war · armed conflict
cease-fireescalation
Progressive increase in intensity
aggression · invasion · offensive · provocation · attack