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
Weiss made a career for herself as an op-ed staff editor at The New York Times before breaking off from the mainstream publication in 2020 and launching the Free Press.
—
Antonio Ferme, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Lopez and Affleck, one of the quintessential pop culture couples of the early 2000s, famously rekindled their romance in 2021 and wed the following year, two decades after breaking off their first engagement in late 2002.
—Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
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
Antonio Ferme, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Lopez and Affleck, one of the quintessential pop culture couples of the early 2000s, famously rekindled their romance in 2021 and wed the following year, two decades after breaking off their first engagement in late 2002.
—Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking off
Verb
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Still, ending the war always required that Hamas agree to a deal—perhaps an ugly one, certainly an imperfect one, but one that would bring a stop to the killing.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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After Voodoo, D’Angelo went over a decade without releasing music, finally ending that long hiatus at the end of 2014 with Black Messiah.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The metro Detroit rallies have advocated for causes including stopping immigration crackdowns, stopping authoritarianism, health care, maintaining a positive relationship with Canada amid tariffs, declaring Detroit a sanctuary city, stopping deaths in Gaza and more.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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Nihi has 25 of Sumba’s beloved sandalwood horses, released from their stable once a day to run free through the shallows, stopping to roll around in the sand and nip at each other.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The announcement also follows low-cost Icelandic carrier Play Airlines decision to fold, ceasing operations and canceling all remaining flights.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Oct. 2025
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The exchange is seen as a possible breakthrough in ceasing hostilities and bringing the war to an end.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Policyholders with expiring contracts could lose coverage and funds to pay claims have dropped $30 billion due to the shutdown.—
NPR,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2025
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Legislators have been at a stalemate over expiring healthcare funding and tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, USA TODAY reported.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Phil Rinn was among those who felt the momentum needed to continue through a general strike, halting the flow of work and consumerism until substantial changes were made.—
Stephanie Murray,
AZCentral.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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The plaintiffs in the New York suit seek a declaration that the surveillance program is unconstitutional, an injunction halting its operation, and an order requiring the government to purge any records derived from online monitoring.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Udine, Italy Reuters — Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched Tuesday in the northern Italian city of Udine before Italy’s World Cup soccer qualifier against Israel, concluding their mostly peaceful protest with clashes involving police.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
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As the concluding chapter of Wicked‘s big-screen adaptation approaches, Marissa Bode is opening up about how the movie does away with an ableist plot point.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a recent interview with the BBC World Service, Machado voiced support for the international coalition’s efforts in the Caribbean, framing them as essential to cutting off illicit revenue to the Maduro regime.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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Across town, the Elk River could surround CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital, cutting off all exits.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Burton is one of over a dozen people who have been arrested on suspicion of helping the escapees, including another inmate in the jail and a jail maintenance worker who is accused of shutting off water to the toilet allowing escapees to remove it.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
8 Oct. 2025
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Although SoCal Edison can prevent electrical fires by shutting off the power that flows through the lines, the utility did not turn the power off to most circuits that power Altadena.—
Chiara Eisner,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20off. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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