BREAKING OFF Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

breaking off

verb

present participle of break off

as in ending

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stopping

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of breaking off Experts believe Wednesday's mudslides and flash flooding across Nepal and China's Tibet region were caused by a large chunk of ice breaking off a glacier and falling into the Lhende Khola River. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The AccuWeather team will be looking for smaller storm cells breaking off of the main line, which would give them freedom to begin rotating and potentially spin off a tornado funnel. — Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026 Later videos appeared to show the top of the rocket breaking off in flight. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026 Now, though, some branches are breaking off. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 In November 1987, after breaking off her engagement with Estevez, Moore married Bruce in Las Vegas. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 21 June 2026 Work is continuing to try to stabilize the Pacifica Municipal Pier, which began cracking at its base on June 4 and is now in danger of breaking off and falling into the water. — John Ramos, CBS News, 16 June 2026 That trail of vaporizing particles breaking off the asteroid causes a bright streak of light across the sky called a meteor, or colloquially a shooting star. — Adam Lark, The Conversation, 16 June 2026 Among efforts—three engagements to women that ended up breaking off. — Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking off

Verb

That kind of conflict doesn't leave you feeling like the world is ending.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Superman and Batman might be one of the DC Universe’s most famous partnerships, but Robert Pattinson is officially ending speculation that his take on Bruce Wayne would fit in the cinematic world created by James Gunn.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of ending

Verb

Seeing a film at the Odeon cinema followed by stopping at Luini for a panzerotto, a cousin of the calzone, was long a favorite Milanese ritual.

— Emma Bocchi, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026
Marshall improved to 5-0 with a 28-27 win over Marquez, stopping a two-point conversion try in the final minute.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of stopping

Verb

Still, the top-four most popular trades bought by volume were all puts, with the 280 and 281-strike puts expiring Thursday accounting for over 120,000 trades.

— Oliver Renick, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
The leaders are also expected to address an expiring trade agreement between the two countries, along with discussions around critical minerals.

— Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of expiring

Verb

Kean, who has voted against resolutions aimed at halting military action in Iran, defended the war.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Urgent issues for Kyiv are halting devastating Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid and ensuring Ukrainian grain can be shipped to world markets through the Black Sea despite the war.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of halting

Verb

Following a pair of nights in Hartford, the pop singer will make her way across North America through February 2027, concluding with a 10-night run at both Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome and New York City’s Barclays Center.

— Karla Cote, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
What’s Happening The American Heart Association issued a 2025 scientific statement concluding that cuffless blood pressure devices should not be used to diagnose, track or treat high blood pressure at this time.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of concluding

Verb

The trade system is also being fragmented by global trade dynamics like export restrictions, tariffs, sanctions cutting off certain sources, and shipping and logistics breakdowns.

— Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
If time is limited, prioritize cutting off seed heads and flower structures.

— Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of cutting off

Verb

The episode isn’t quite done, despite leaving off on an explosive note.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
This does have the effect of, at times, including star NHL players while leaving off players who are still in the minors and have a chance to make the league.

— Corey Pronman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025