1
as in to distract
to draw the attention or mind to something else
she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cancel
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of call off
Duarte officials called off the city’s Cesar Chavez Day of Service event, scheduled for Saturday, March 21.
—
Ryan Carter, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Yet calling off the face-to-face visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping could have its own major economic consequences as relations between the world's two biggest economies remain fraught over tariffs and other issues.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
Formula 1 calls off some April races Formula 1 and its governing body FIA canceled Grand Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, citing safety concerns.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi was disappointed to learn of the cancellation of the Finalissima match between Argentina and Spain, which had been scheduled to be played in Qatar on March 27 but was called off due to the war in the region.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Ryan Carter, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Yet calling off the face-to-face visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping could have its own major economic consequences as relations between the world's two biggest economies remain fraught over tariffs and other issues.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
Formula 1 calls off some April races Formula 1 and its governing body FIA canceled Grand Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, citing safety concerns.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi was disappointed to learn of the cancellation of the Finalissima match between Argentina and Spain, which had been scheduled to be played in Qatar on March 27 but was called off due to the war in the region.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
20 Mar. 2026
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Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.—
William Earl,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Those increases are often passed on to consumers in the form of higher airfares – another factor Richardson cited as a reason for canceling her trip.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
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Officers handled more than 50,000 calls in December, January and February; the department had to extend more than 500 shifts and cancelled 1,000 vacation days.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Europe is particularly attuned to how the conflict has diverted the White House’s attention from Russia’s war in Ukraine.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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Since then, 43 have rerouted to other Gulf ports, with the rest diverting from the region entirely.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hadi’s daily routine increasingly became a collection of responsibilities and odd jobs that others had abandoned.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
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This, in turn, forced Democrats to alter their strategy for passing Obamacare and abandon certain progressive provisions that could not be enacted through reconciliation.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The superstar appears alongside Robert Pattinson in the A24 film, which follows an engaged couple whose wedding week is thrown off the rails after one of them reveals a big secret.—
Kirsten Chuba,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
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Late edits to a speech, and the resulting changes to the words on the screen, threaten to throw off his delivery.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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President Barack Obama scrapped Bush’s moon return aspirations, instead pushing to extend the life of the International Space Station.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
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Ford, Hyundai, Kia, GM, Volkswagen, and Stellantis have all slowed EV rollouts and are even going as far as scrapping certain projects altogether.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But in the history of the law, an exemption has never been revoked due to noncompliance, state officials say.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Payments frozen, licenses revoked CMS recently froze payments to 10 tenants inside the building and has demanded records before those payments will resume, according to a hospice administrator who received one of the letters.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His first attempt was aborted after a phone call with his worried mother, and the second and third attempts were derailed because the team officials suspected his intentions and dropped him from the squad.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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Crosby was viewed as the player who would do it, but when that deal was aborted, the Ravens quickly pivoted to Hendrickson.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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