Desisting means to stop doing something, to abstain from an action or behavior. Some synonyms for desisting include ceasing, discontinuing, quitting, halting, abstaining, refraining, and ending. Another synonym could be abandoning, which implies leaving something behind or giving up on it completely. Similarly, surrendering could also be used to imply a complete stop in the action or behavior. Ceasing and discontinuing both suggest a sudden and complete stop, while quitting and halting imply a more deliberate decision to stop. Abstaining and refraining both suggest a conscious choice to not engage in a certain behavior. Ending also implies a cessation, but often with a more final and conclusive connotation.