1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Recent Examples of breaking off
After breaking off the engagement, Cochran said, Glison had moved to the apartment complex to get away from him.
—
Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Johnson then carried the ball on the last four plays, breaking off carries of eight, nine and 10 yards.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
After breaking off her first engagement with Affleck in 2004, the singer went on to marry singer-songwriter Marc Anthony.
—Ariana Quihuiz, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
An individual was treated for injuries in connection with an incident involving acrylic glass breaking off of a water slide, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson indicated in a statement to Fox News Digital.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Johnson then carried the ball on the last four plays, breaking off carries of eight, nine and 10 yards.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
After breaking off her first engagement with Affleck in 2004, the singer went on to marry singer-songwriter Marc Anthony.
—Ariana Quihuiz, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
An individual was treated for injuries in connection with an incident involving acrylic glass breaking off of a water slide, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson indicated in a statement to Fox News Digital.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking off
Verb
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Robles’ sprinting, diving catch to start a game-ending double play in Houston last Saturday could stand as the pivotal moment when the season turned Seattle’s way.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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But that unit got a little less threatening after the season-ending ACL injury to former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa in Sunday’s 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Teams have no choice but to continue to throw numbers at stopping the run.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
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That's the same deadline that Grassley gave Noem to respond about stopping student visa authorizations.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The university also asks the court to order online marketplaces, payment processors and other companies that do business with the defendants from disabling and ceasing to provide services.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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While the drugs were being administered, Pittman took a few deep breaths before ceasing all movement, according to The Associated Press.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Why is a soon-expiring, 3-year contract still being negotiated?—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
25 Sep. 2025
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Halligan is working against the clock, with the five-year statute of limitations to prosecute Comey for allegedly making false statements expiring on Tuesday.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The sanctions, which will go into effect unless there’s a last-minute deal Friday, will include freezing Iranian assets abroad, halting arms deals with Tehran and penalizing any development of Iran’s ballistic missile program.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Sep. 2025
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The best shot at halting the gerrymander, experts and some Democrats say, is fighting the map in court and at the ballot box.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Prosecutors said two forensic pathologists examined the remains separately, both concluding the victims died from gunshots to the head.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
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The show debuted in 2012 on MTV with the most recent season 9 concluding last summer.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Each genetic tweak, while different, ultimately silenced alb1, cutting off melanin production and leaving the mold white.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Sep. 2025
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After Skydio sold drones to Taiwan, Beijing retaliated last year by cutting off the company’s access to Chinese batteries, prompting the company to ration them to only one per drone.—
Seth Harp,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If the plaque weakens and breaks apart, large clumps are released into the blood stream, and a large clump can block an artery, completely shutting off blood flow and causing a heart attack.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Sep. 2025
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The phones were all on and were not shutting off.—
Yaakov Katz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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