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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of break off
The right wing then scraped the ground and broke off at the fuselage, releasing a cloud of jet fuel that caught fire as the airplane overturned and moved down the runway.
—
David Schaper, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025
Photos and video were also posted to social media showing pieces of the helicopter, including the rotor, appearing to break off before the body of the craft falls out of the sky into the water.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2025
The deep fake issue was broken off into a separate bill because lawmakers could not agree on all the aspects of a much larger, all-encompassing bill that would regulate the fast-developing world of artificial intelligence.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2025
But the Packers ranked 29th in kick returns, as teams were willing to give them those extra five yards on a touchback instead of risking Nixon breaking off a long return.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
David Schaper, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025
Photos and video were also posted to social media showing pieces of the helicopter, including the rotor, appearing to break off before the body of the craft falls out of the sky into the water.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2025
The deep fake issue was broken off into a separate bill because lawmakers could not agree on all the aspects of a much larger, all-encompassing bill that would regulate the fast-developing world of artificial intelligence.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2025
But the Packers ranked 29th in kick returns, as teams were willing to give them those extra five yards on a touchback instead of risking Nixon breaking off a long return.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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Commentary: Is Trump's plan for tariff relief for automakers too late to stop global impact?—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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Diabetes insipidus is treated by drinking enough water to stay hydrated, and may also include taking medications or stopping or adjusting certain medications.—
Danielle Weiss,
Verywell Health,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Major automakers want Congress to bar California's landmark plan to end the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035 that has been adopted by 11 other states, warning the rules could begin impacting vehicle shipments in a few months.—
David Shepardson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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The festival kicks off on May 13, and ends on May 24, with the winners broadcast live at the closing ceremony on France Télévisions in France and by Brut internationally.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Without these little guys and their fellow pollinators, our gardens would be devoid of fruit, our flowers would not spread, and many species that rely on them would cease to exist.—
Katie Akin,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2025
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That shouldn’t be a surprise because the Packers would rather cease to exist as a franchise than draft an offensive lineman who can’t play at least three.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Zhao was on a student visa in Australia, which expired in April 2020, according to reports.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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The plan allegedly started in April 2022, after the IPO lockup period expired and despite advisor warnings, including one from a capital markets consultant that such a trading plan likely breached Backblaze’s fiduciary duties.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But last week, the Trump administration ordered him to halt all the lab’s ALS research immediately as part of a more than $2.2 billion federal funding freeze.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2025
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The sources said Unilever is threatening to halt the funding in retaliation for the lawsuit, and because one of the ice cream maker's founders has tried to buy back the frozen dessert maker.—
Jessica DiNapoli,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This Wedding Banquet concludes with a scene of Angela, Lee, Min, and Chris jointly raising two children, the kid Angela had after a drunken fling with Chris and the one Lee had through the IVF that Min funded.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
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The events will conclude with the beginning of the Novemdiales, a symbolic and procedural period of nine days of prayer, mourning and remembrance.—
Gabriele Regalbuto,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There are myriad, clear alcohol health risks that can be improved by quitting drinking altogether or lowering alcohol consumption.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Another member of Diddy’s defense team, Anthony Ricco, previously quit the case in February.—
Justin Curto,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Trump administration is cutting off the huge stream of data that's been feeding the nation's largest study of women's health, which has produced a series of landmark discoveries.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2025
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Trump briefly cut off aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, but resumed after Zelenskyy agreed to an immediate ceasefire, a call Putin has rebuffed.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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