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
Baby rattlesnakes don’t have rattles, and adult snakes’ rattles occasionally break off, according to the National Park Service.
—
Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Their recent outings come nearly a year after Kravitz and ex-fiancé Channing Tatum broke off their engagement in October 2024.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
In 2024, the actress broke off her engagement to Channing Tatum.
—Hannah Madlener, Glamour, 25 Aug. 2025
Part of the casket that broke off during the excavation helped YCSO determine the discovery was not a routine death investigation but rather a remnant of the area's history.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Their recent outings come nearly a year after Kravitz and ex-fiancé Channing Tatum broke off their engagement in October 2024.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
In 2024, the actress broke off her engagement to Channing Tatum.
—Hannah Madlener, Glamour, 25 Aug. 2025
Part of the casket that broke off during the excavation helped YCSO determine the discovery was not a routine death investigation but rather a remnant of the area's history.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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Fall weather isn't stopping the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) as its crews are set to begin a number of construction work across the state.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Good Fortune follows Reeves as an angel, Gabriel, tasked by his boss, Martha (Sandra Oh), with stopping humans from dying while texting and driving.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Popular visa categories often reach their annual limit well before the fiscal year ends, particularly for applicants from countries with high demand.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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George Springer’s revival season reaches new heights Springer ended last season with the ninth-lowest OPS in the American League.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At the end of 2024, SHR ceased operations, paving the way for the rise of the Haas Factory Team.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
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In turn, matchups between strong Group of 5 teams and hefty pocketbooks will cease to exist.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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Plus, the service lost subscribers last quarter—a show people are excited about could lure back some whose bundles expired.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Thanks to Chouinard’s financial backing, the development was halted, the river was protected, and the surf break was preserved.—
David Gelles,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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Under orders from General Erinmore (Colin Firth), the pair must traverse enemy lines to deliver a life-or-death message to Colonel Mackenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch), halting an attack that would endanger more than 1,000 men.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When isolated statistics are presented without context in the media, there is every reason to conclude that data does not offer anything valuable to the conversation.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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The letter concludes with a call for parents to engage with their children about appropriate conduct.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then the key to Finnish success in reducing homelessness is the housing-first model, where the logic is that you're not required to quit using alcohol or narcotics.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Growing economic uncertainty has kept workers from quitting their jobs and has led businesses to slow down hiring decisions, experts say.—
Ana Teresa Solá,
CNBC,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Pre-order offers officially run until September 12, but Deluxe Edition-specific bonuses will likely cut off a day earlier, based on past years.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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The White House cut off billions of Harvard’s federal dollars, then tried to block the school’s ability to enroll international students, who for the last four years have made up more than a fourth of the student body.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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