desistance

Sometimes de·sist·ence

[dih-sis-tuhns, -zis-]

noun

1. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of desistance¹

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

Example Sentences

Desistance means when someone stops identifying as transgender and pursuing medical transition.

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Voting is “part of a package of pro-social behavior that is linked to desistance from crime.”

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We need people excited about comedians sticking it to dumbstruck conservative attorneys general who can’t even name the medical organization she’s attributing her completely made-up, bogus desistance statistic to.

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

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

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Related Words

• closure 
• completion 
• consequence 
• denouement 
• development 
• ending 
• outcome 
• result