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
Kelly's parents reportedly disapproved of the union, and she was forced to break off the engagement.
—
Emma Banks, InStyle, 18 Jan. 2026
Banzai Pipeline, a surf break off Ehukai Beach Park, is popular for surf contests, and Sunset Beach lives up to its name as a favorite for enjoying sunset views.
—Sunny Fitzgerald, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2026
Firefighters discovered that a cap beam atop a pillar had broken off and toppled, throwing six workers roughly 30 feet and trapping one inside the concrete form work platform, Sanchez said.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
To do so, break off a small piece of the pod and dissolve it in a bucket of warm water.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break off
Emma Banks, InStyle, 18 Jan. 2026
Banzai Pipeline, a surf break off Ehukai Beach Park, is popular for surf contests, and Sunset Beach lives up to its name as a favorite for enjoying sunset views.
—Sunny Fitzgerald, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2026
Firefighters discovered that a cap beam atop a pillar had broken off and toppled, throwing six workers roughly 30 feet and trapping one inside the concrete form work platform, Sanchez said.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
To do so, break off a small piece of the pod and dissolve it in a bucket of warm water.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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Contraceptives acting on spermatogenesis take a few weeks to kick in, and fertility takes a few weeks to return when a man stops using them.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
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Either way, Mahomes’ reaction, and reportedly Belichick’s, doesn’t stop there.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Tesla signaled a major shift in its business as CEO Elon Musk told investors the company will end production of its longest-running premium electric vehicles.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
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That lawsuit ended earlier this month after the immigrant detainee who filed the case agreed to be removed from the United States.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cardozo added that all milking operations have ceased, and some beef and non-lactating dairy cattle are still grazing.—
Richard Halstead,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
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Désirée Zamorano Writer and educator Désirée Zamorano recalls the intensity of the time surrounding the Eaton fire last year, bookended by political stress, which hasn’t ceased.—
Erica Zora Wrightson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The decision leaves intact a three-judge panel’s ruling that Habba’s appointment became unlawful once her 120-day interim term expired.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
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As is often the case with media rights, the amount started lower than that, and with escalators, the value will eventually exceed the yearly $334 million when the 25-year deal expires.—
Maury Brown,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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DoorDash has temporarily halted deliveries across Dallas-Fort Worth as a powerful winter storm sweeps across the country, bringing heavy snow and ice to more than 230 million people, according to the company.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
24 Jan. 2026
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The packed, standing-room-only crowds drew the fire department’s attention and the show had to be halted one time so a man having a heart attack could be taken out.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Crespi will also conclude regular-season play on Tuesday, before the Mission League tournament, with a home battle with Loyola.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Washington County District Attorney's Office The FBI lab, which examined this evidence, concluded that the mud on Debe's car tire did not match the mud where her car was found.—
Sarah Prior,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hechtman, who quit drinking in 2021 after participating in Dry January, a challenge to abstain from alcohol for 31 days, said her social life has flourished since then.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
24 Jan. 2026
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Eskander had been part of the original canon committee, but quit a year into the work.—
Colton Valentine,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cumming said the city's information technology department also abruptly cut off part of her office administrator's access, including the ability to see who else in city government may be looking at whistleblower complaints and documents related to ethics investigations.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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The drug cuts off access to vitamin A in the testes by blocking a receptor known as RAR alpha.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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