1
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to end
to come to an end
talks between the two sides broke off when one began making unreasonable demands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of break off
Lopez and Affleck, one of the quintessential pop culture couples of the early 2000s, famously rekindled their romance in 2021 and wed the following year, two decades after breaking off their first engagement in late 2002.
—
Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
About 10 minutes later, one or two members of the group broke off to spray-paint vehicles and the guard booth.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
Already one had broken off and, sadly the second one came from the top.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
On third down, Devin Williams broke off a 49-yard run to give the Wolverines the ball in El Toro territory.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
About 10 minutes later, one or two members of the group broke off to spray-paint vehicles and the guard booth.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
Already one had broken off and, sadly the second one came from the top.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
On third down, Devin Williams broke off a 49-yard run to give the Wolverines the ball in El Toro territory.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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But her six-figure salary didn’t stop her from using the Foundation as her personal piggy bank, records show.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
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Witkoff, Rubio, and Kushner then streamlined the proposal to a two-phase structure—first, a ceasefire and exchange of hostages and prisoners to stop the fighting; second, a framework for Gaza's future, including disarmament and a technocratic transitional government.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Get skillets, Dutch ovens, cake pans, and more before the sale ends.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
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All federal employees who are not paid during the shutdown, whether they were furloughed or remained working, are entitled by law to back pay once the shutdown ends.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The humble soybean has become a flashpoint in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies after Beijing ceased all purchases from the US.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
5 Oct. 2025
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Guests who fail to comply will be asked to cease smoking.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Auston Matthews is one of the few with a four-year contract (which expires in 2028).—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Trump noncommittal about Obamacare subsidies Trump would not commit on Wednesday to supporting an extension of subsidies in the Affordable Care Act that are set to expire at the end of the year.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This time, the game was halted and rescheduled, a sharp contrast to the league’s handling of King’s earlier incident.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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The Aggies are 5-1 overall, not counting an opening-night game against Mercer in the FCS Kickoff Classic in Alabama that was halted because of nearby lightning strikes with the Aggies leading 23-17 in the fourth quarter.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Its intervention came days before a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
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Pettit’s latest space mission, a 220-day jaunt, concluded on his 70th birthday on April 20, when the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that carried him and his two crewmates touched down in the steppe of Kazakhstan.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even down 14-0, the Jaguars never quit.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
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Russell—toying with the idea of quitting acting for good—jumped coasts.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Tesla and an SUV were traveling westbound on Northwest 163rd Street when the SUV allegedly cut off the Tesla, prompting the Tesla to crash into a utility pole and burst into flames, a North Miami Beach Police Department spokesperson said.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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That would cut off access to the narrow gaps between train cars where subway surfers use handholds to hoist themselves onto the roof.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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