desistance

American

[dih-sis-tuhns, -zis-] / dɪˈsɪs təns, -ˈzɪs- /

Sometimes desistence

noun

the act or process of ceasing, especially from a criminal or antisocial behavior.

Substance abuse has been found to hinder desistance in young adults' aggressive behavior.

Other Word Forms

nondesistance noun
nondesistence noun

Etymology

Origin of desistance

desist ( def. ) + -ance ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rather, they use the threat of certain but nonsevere punishments to encourage people to find their own paths to desistance.

From Washington Post • Dec. 2, 2021

The idea that many trans kids will grow out of it is referred to in research as desistance.

From The Verge • Jul. 30, 2021

In three of the studies, participants who didn’t follow up with the researchers in adolescence or adulthood were assumed to be desistant, again inaccurately raising the desistance percentage.

From The Verge • Jul. 30, 2021

It’s a metric inconsistent with what we know about the rocky reality of desistance.

From Washington Post • May 16, 2019

A year of existence Has passed to the distance Ne'er to return: To the right was resistance, From duty desistance, Nor would I learn.

From Verses of Feeling and Fancy by MacKeracher, Wm. M.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023