dead stop

Abrupt total cessation

A dead stop is a complete cessation of motion or activity, with no gradual slowing—instant and total: The car came to a dead stop.

The phrase emphasizes abruptness or finality: Negotiations ground to a dead stop.

In weightlifting, a dead stop rep begins from rest rather than using momentum from a previous movement.

halt

standstill

Total cessation of movement

freezeBecome solid from cold
brakeDevice to slow motion
ceaseTo discontinue activity

gridlock · jam · logjam · obstruction · paralysis · roadblock · stalemate · congestion · impasse · blockade

sudden

jolt

Abrupt forceful shake

screechHigh, harsh cry
brakeDevice to slow motion
collisionForceful contact between objects

crash · impact · abrupt · emergency · shock · unexpected · unforeseen · swerve · skid · whiplash

immobility

motionless

Lacking all movement

stationaryNot in motion
frozenSolidified by extreme cold
fixedRestored or immovable

rooted · anchored · static · still · inert · rigid · petrified · stock-still · unmoving · halted

Categories

impassesimpasse, deadlock, stalemate, standstill, gridlock
slow thingssnail, tortoise, turtle, sloth, molasses
stillnessstillness, motionless, motionlessness, immobility, unmoving
stoppageshalt, standstill, cessation, grinding halt, arrest
stopshalt, cease, pause, end, brake
Idle Phrasesidle hands, twiddling thumbs, killing time, at rest, doing nothing

Opposites

motion/momentum

dead stopfull speed

Maximum rate of motion

continuous motion · full tilt · top speed · full throttle · movement

manner of stopping

dead stoprolling stop

Deceleration without full halt

coasting · tapering off · soft landing · winding down · deceleration

intensity/completeness

dead stophesitation

Delay from uncertainty

pause · slowdown · crawl · half speed

Family

stop, death, deadly, stopped, stopping, nonstop, deaths, stops, stopper

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G