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
The would-be victim followed the suspect after their confrontation initially broke off, at which point the suspect allegedly turned and stabbed at the victim.
—
Greg Norman , Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Soon after, Davis broke off his engagement to Canadian dancer Joan Stuart.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 18 Dec. 2025
The Aggies broke off to make Texas their Thanksgiving weekend rival in 2024, and LSU finished up the year against Oklahoma the last two seasons.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 13 Dec. 2025
Each cutting should have 2 to 5 leaf segments and be clipped off with clean shears or scissors or gently broken off with your fingers between two leaf segments.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Greg Norman , Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Soon after, Davis broke off his engagement to Canadian dancer Joan Stuart.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 18 Dec. 2025
The Aggies broke off to make Texas their Thanksgiving weekend rival in 2024, and LSU finished up the year against Oklahoma the last two seasons.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 13 Dec. 2025
Each cutting should have 2 to 5 leaf segments and be clipped off with clean shears or scissors or gently broken off with your fingers between two leaf segments.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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On third-and-1 with seven seconds left, Schakel took the snap and tried to spike the ball, which would have stopped the clock and given his team one final play to go for the win.—
Alex Valdes,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Among those who do use an advisor, 26% are considering switching and 18% may stop using an advisor altogether.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The administration has quietly directed diplomats to press allies on restricting inflows, enhancing deportation mechanisms, and ending policies perceived as favoring migrants over citizens.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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This abuse of justice must end.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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From December through February, shuttle service largely ceases (outside of select days and weekends; check shuttle schedules for up-to-date details).—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
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Meanwhile, over in Britain, a vibrant antiwar movement brought on motion after motion in Parliament to cease fire and end all offensive operations against the rebels.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Kick your tattered bath mat to the curb, and grab the Yimobra Memory Foam Bath Rug before the deal expires.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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January was set to host a free-agent frenzy, with most league veterans aligning their contracts to expire in advance of the new CBA.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Top Republicans who attended the classified briefing rallied to the president’s defense while Democrats questioned the scope of the operation and pushed to halt further military action.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2026
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Corpus Christi, Texas — The judge overseeing the trial of a former school police officer accused of abandoning children during a massacre halted testimony on Tuesday and told jurors not to come to court on Wednesday.—
Shimon Prokupecz,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Women from 130 countries are participating in this year’s edition, which concludes on November 21 with the crowning of the winner.—
Anabella González,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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Williams returned to his alma mater and guided UNC to three NCAA titles (2005, 2009, 2017) and concluded with a career record of 903-264.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Placer County, which estimates that 16,000 residents could lose health care coverage by 2028, quit operating its own clinics nearly a decade ago.—
KFF Health News,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
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After quitting acting, Kibrick attended the University of Southern California and worked in real estate development.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The easiest way to cut into a pomegranate is to cut off the peel near the blossom end.—
Mary Ann Esposito,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
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One congressman suggested that Washington should sooner cut off his own hand than sign a bill that would see his likeness on a coin, a move that would put him in the company of Nero and Caligula.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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