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

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as in stopping

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

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 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 Honduras established diplomatic ties with China in 2023 after breaking off relations with Taiwan. — ABC News, 8 May 2026 Filed by First Nations groups in Alberta, the lawsuit argues that the province breaking off from Canada would violate treaty rights. — Chantelle Lee, Time, 5 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking off

Verb

Gabby Williams and Tiffany Hayes scored 15 points apiece in the first of back-to-back matchups between the teams at Chase Center, where a raucous sellout crowd cheered Golden State ending a two-game skid that followed a nine-game winning streak.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
That could prove to be true after all thanks to the improbable return of Owens, who shocked the world by coming back just a year and a half after what appeared to be career-ending neck surgery.

— Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of ending

Verb

Nets, Disruptions, and Camouflage Close reading, however, reveals a few telling details about what the Pentagon views as best practices for stopping and killing drones.

— Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Defeat technologies are an essential piece in the kill chain, as detection is only the first step to stopping the threat.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026

Definition of stopping

Verb

With the rain ceasing by Saturday evening, however, many suburbs went on with their fireworks as planned.

— Pioneer Press, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Kraken, one of the oldest crypto exchanges in the global industry, is ceasing on World Cup fever and drawing parallels between soccer fans and ‘hodlers’ in their promotions.

— Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Definition of ceasing

Verb

However, without a clear option behind him in the A’s organization, Heim may be too valuable to trade, despite his contract expiring at the end of the season.

— Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Barcelona, constrained by Financial Fair Play, aims to renew Torres' contract but cannot offer a new deal until September, despite his current one expiring in 2027.

— Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of expiring

Verb

Mail-in ballots in Kansas will have three days after Election Day to arrive at election offices after the Kansas Court of Appeals upheld an earlier decision halting the new law that would remove the grace period.

— Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
However, Marcinkowski saved the attempt, allowing the Galaxy to escape with a draw, halting a two-game losing skid since the restart of the regular season.

— Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 31 July 2026

Definition of halting

Verb

In that case, a middle school student targeted 11 female classmates in deepfake images, and the school delayed contacting police until after concluding its own internal investigation.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
This marks Skelton’s first TV role since concluding her seven-year run on Starz’s Outlander playing Brianna Randall Fraser.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 29 July 2026

Definition of concluding

Verb

One couple has racked up millions of views for their trailblazing short cut into the Costco parking lot, bypassing the entrance and four-wheeling over the curb and sidewalk, sometimes cutting off drivers about to pull into the vacant spot.

— Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Republicans argued before the vote that cutting off the administration's ability to wage war now would tie their hands.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Definition of cutting off

Verb

Taking it with you prevents it from winding up in the ocean, or in the mouths of wildlife.

— Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 14 July 2026
Some tea strainers feature a mesh casing, which is the best option for preventing small particles from escaping the infuser and winding up in your drink.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026