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hit the brakes

VERB

slow

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abate curb curtail decelerate decrease diminish hinder impede lag lessen moderate reduce relax retard slacken stall temper

STRONG

brake check choke detain loiter mire postpone procrastinate qualify quiet reef regulate stunt

WEAK

anchor it back-water bog down cut back cut down ease off ease up embog hold back hold up keep waiting let down flaps lose speed lose steam reduce speed rein in set back wind down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advance agitate aid allow assist develop encourage enlarge excite expand extend facilitate forward further grow help increase lengthen prolong push raise strengthen

STRONG

accelerate do expedite liberate release

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.

Baker had to hit the brakes to avoid the collision, and the passenger, who wasn’t wearing a seat belt, fell off the seat.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Those worries, however, shouldn’t lead us to hit the brakes on innovation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Wild trading in metals markets Monday hit the brakes on a torrid year-end rally, sending silver futures to their steepest one-day decline in almost five years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

Ferrari also hit the brakes on a plan to go electric, after unveiling the chassis and powertrain for its first ever EV, the Ferrari elettrica External link, which will start deliveries in late 2026.

From Barron's • Oct. 9, 2025

I felt Black Betty began to drift forward, only to jerk to a stop when Liam hit the brakes instead of the gas.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

hit the brakes

Example Sentences

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