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
Their connection was so strong, Douglas broke off his engagement with Angeli and the two were married on May 29, 1954.
—
Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 31 May 2025
Both races will travel through Hillcrest, North Park and Normal Heights before the marathon breaks off from the half-marathon, event organizers said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
About 100 people from a party broke off and went on a vandalism spree, Carranza said.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
The right engine, which had been on fire, had a broken fan blade and part of the exhaust system broke off and was found in a grassy field alongside I-95, near the flight path.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 31 May 2025
Both races will travel through Hillcrest, North Park and Normal Heights before the marathon breaks off from the half-marathon, event organizers said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
About 100 people from a party broke off and went on a vandalism spree, Carranza said.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
The right engine, which had been on fire, had a broken fan blade and part of the exhaust system broke off and was found in a grassy field alongside I-95, near the flight path.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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On September 2, Border Force officers had stopped two women at London Stansted Airport.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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Nintendo’s onetime chief rival, Sega Corp., stopped making and selling consoles in 2001 after a series of failures.—
Wendy Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Verb
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But since the spring legislative session ended, Ford has had joint meetings with cannabis and hemp operators in an attempt to reach some compromise.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2025
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Since that two-year period ended this past March and was not renewed, Soliman is currently in the country illegally.—
The Editors,
National Review,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Yet, for some time now, there has been a third movement that tends to be articulated more in art than elsewhere, even if elsewhere there has long since ceased to be any alternative.—
Diedrich Diederichsen,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
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Once retired, income mainly ceases and so does the ability to add funding to retirement accounts.—
David Kudla,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
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According to court documents, the employee fraudulently created a new medical marijuana card for herself after her card obtained in 2023 expired, KELO reported.—
Kate Linderman,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2025
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Most of the tax rates and breaks enacted in 2017 during President Donald Trump’s first term expire at the end of this year, and the bill would continue them.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
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The ruling halted a 30% tariff on China, a 25% tariff on certain goods from Mexico and Canada, and 10% baseline tariffs on most of the rest of the world, but did not affect import taxes on steel, aluminum, or automakers, which Trump levied under a different law.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
29 May 2025
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The Kyiv Independent reported that Russia’s foreign minister reiterated that no deal would be considered without committing to NATO halting eastward expansion, which would prevent Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova from ever entering the alliance.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Some investors must be concluding that this is basically a no-growth company.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
29 May 2025
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Before her game this week against the Phoenix Mercury, Reese was asked about the investigation concluding that the claims were not substantiated.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Privately, the show’s lead actress, Emily Meade, threatened to quit.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
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After being a successful child actor in the 1950s, Talbot quit acting at the age of 14.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Verb
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To do so, the EU could cut off the remaining imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG.—
David McHugh,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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The final week of the regular session left Democrats angry with Republicans over the majority party’s decision to cut off multiple filibusters.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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