diff --git a/docs/cli-reference.md b/docs/cli-reference.md
index 146f620..ea90d5d 100644
--- a/docs/cli-reference.md
+++ b/docs/cli-reference.md
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ dw workflow:update order-123 approve --input='{"approver":"admin"}'
 dw bridge:webhook stripe --action=start_workflow --idempotency-key=stripe-event-1001 --target='{"workflow_type":"orders.fulfillment","task_queue":"external-workflows","business_key":"order-1001"}' --input='{"order_id":"order-1001"}'
 dw bridge:webhook pagerduty --action=signal_workflow --idempotency-key=pd-event-3003 --target='{"workflow_id":"wf-remediation-42","signal_name":"incident_escalated"}' --input='{"severity":"critical"}' --json
 
-# Cancel a workflow (workflow code can observe and clean up)
+# Close a workflow as cancelled (workflow code does not run cleanup)
 dw workflow:cancel order-123 --reason="Customer request"
 dw workflow:cancel --all-matching='customer-42' --yes --reason="Customer request"
 
diff --git a/src/Commands/WorkflowCommand/CancelCommand.php b/src/Commands/WorkflowCommand/CancelCommand.php
index 289d404..547ea25 100644
--- a/src/Commands/WorkflowCommand/CancelCommand.php
+++ b/src/Commands/WorkflowCommand/CancelCommand.php
@@ -23,10 +23,11 @@ protected function configure(): void
     {
         parent::configure();
         $this->setName('workflow:cancel')
-            ->setDescription('Request cancellation of a workflow')
+            ->setDescription('Close a workflow as cancelled')
             ->setHelp(<<<'HELP'
-Request cooperative cancellation. The workflow receives a cancellation
-signal and has a chance to run its cancellation handlers.
+Close the workflow run as cancelled immediately. Open tasks and timers are
+cancelled; workflow code does not resume to run cleanup. Arrange compensation
+before this command or use external reconciliation.
 
 <comment>Examples:</comment>
 
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ protected function execute(InputInterface $input, OutputInterface $output): int
             return $this->renderJson($output, $result);
         }
 
-        $output->writeln('<info>Cancellation requested</info>');
+        $output->writeln('<info>Workflow cancelled</info>');
         $output->writeln('  Workflow ID: '.$result['workflow_id']);
         $this->writeNamespaceLine($output, $result);
         $output->writeln('  Outcome: '.$result['outcome']);
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ private function executeBatchCancel(InputInterface $input, OutputInterface $outp
             return $this->renderBatchJson($output, $summary, $exitCode);
         }
 
-        $output->writeln(sprintf('<info>Cancellation requested for %d workflow%s.</info>', count($results), count($results) === 1 ? '' : 's'));
+        $output->writeln(sprintf('<info>Cancelled %d workflow%s.</info>', count($results), count($results) === 1 ? '' : 's'));
         $this->writeNamespaceLine($output, $summary);
         $output->writeln(sprintf('  Matched: %d', count($matches)));
         $output->writeln(sprintf('  Failed: %d', count($failures)));
diff --git a/tests/Commands/WorkflowControlPlaneCommandTest.php b/tests/Commands/WorkflowControlPlaneCommandTest.php
index bdeb30a..6f82bc7 100644
--- a/tests/Commands/WorkflowControlPlaneCommandTest.php
+++ b/tests/Commands/WorkflowControlPlaneCommandTest.php
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ public function test_cancel_command_batch_cancels_matching_workflows_after_confi
 
         $display = $tester->getDisplay();
         self::assertStringContainsString('Cancel 2 workflows matching [customer-42]?', $display);
-        self::assertStringContainsString('Cancellation requested for 2 workflows.', $display);
+        self::assertStringContainsString('Cancelled 2 workflows.', $display);
         self::assertStringContainsString('Matched: 2', $display);
         self::assertStringContainsString('wf-1', $display);
         self::assertStringContainsString('wf-2', $display);