Select the antonym of the phrasal verb to perpetuate, that is, to make something continue indefinitely.

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks for the antonym of the verb to perpetuate. In English, to perpetuate means to cause something to continue or to make it last for a very long time, sometimes indefinitely, for example to perpetuate a tradition or to perpetuate a problem. Antonym questions require the learner to identify not just related meanings but the exact opposite. Here, the opposite would be a verb that suggests stopping, ending, or bringing something to a close instead of continuing it.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target verb: to perpetuate.
• Options: to eternize, to canonize, to cease, to bolster.
• The task is to select the word that has an opposite meaning.
• Context is general English usage, not specific religious or technical jargon alone.

Concept / Approach:
To perpetuate carries the idea of preserving or prolonging something. A government could unintentionally perpetuate inequality, or individuals may perpetuate myths by repeating them. The correct antonym must therefore express the idea of stopping or bringing an end to whatever is being discussed. Among the given options, to cease directly means to stop, to come to an end, or to cause something to stop. The other verbs to eternize, to canonize, and to bolster all involve maintaining, honouring, or strengthening something, so they are closer in spirit to perpetuate rather than being its opposites.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Verify by constructing parallel sentences. If a policy perpetuates poverty, it makes poverty continue. In contrast, a good policy might cease poverty, meaning it brings poverty to an end. Substituting to eternize or to bolster in that structure shows that those verbs do not express the opposite. For example, to eternize poverty would mean to make it last forever, which is even stronger in the same direction as perpetuate. Therefore, to cease stands out as the only true antonym in the given list.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• To eternize means to make something eternal or everlasting, which is very similar in idea to making something continue and thus close to perpetuate, not opposite.
• To canonize refers to officially declaring someone a saint or raising something to a high, honoured status, which again tends to preserve and respect rather than end.
• To bolster means to support or strengthen, as in bolster someone confidence or bolster an argument, which helps something continue or grow instead of stopping it.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners get confused when several options share a broadly positive or formal tone. They may incorrectly choose a word that sounds impressive rather than focusing on the exact meaning. Another common pitfall is to think only about partial aspects of the target word and not its core idea of making something last. To avoid such errors, always start by clearly defining the target word in your own mind. Then deliberately look for a word that reverses that meaning almost completely. In this case, once you know that perpetuate equals continue or sustain, it becomes much easier to see that cease, meaning stop or end, is the correct antonym.

Final Answer:
to cease