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
Vrabel first held a press conference at a podium inside the Indiana Convention Center before breaking off into a less formal side session with local reporters later.
—
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
While that thankfully hasn't been the case this year, the county did have a hit-and-run involving a semi breaking off a snowplow mirror.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 4 Feb. 2026
In that unlikely scenario, there would be a risk of debris breaking off the asteroid and hitting Earth.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Once enough cars have sped over these fissures, chunks begin breaking off to create those infamous potholes that pop tires and ruin shocks.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2025
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
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
While that thankfully hasn't been the case this year, the county did have a hit-and-run involving a semi breaking off a snowplow mirror.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 4 Feb. 2026
In that unlikely scenario, there would be a risk of debris breaking off the asteroid and hitting Earth.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Once enough cars have sped over these fissures, chunks begin breaking off to create those infamous potholes that pop tires and ruin shocks.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking off
Verb
-
Trump has reversed Biden-era clean energy policies, slashing solar and wind funding, ending EV tax credits and opening the Pacific Coast to oil drilling.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The change to a three-on-three format was made with the goal of ending those games before the skills competition.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The video, shared by the Chino Police Department, shows two vehicles stopping at a red light in front of and behind a big rig on Friday.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Eventually Trump himself entered the hall—now as quiet as a library—and began making his way very slowly down the red carpet with the First Lady, stopping every few steps to take a question.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The White House budget chief’s reported aversion to seeing the deficit widen further on the back of a bigger military bill highlights a phenomenon observed by historian Niall Ferguson, who has said any great power that spends more on debt servicing than on defense risks ceasing to be a great power.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
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Please keep praying without ceasing.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pittsburgh has basically turned Jarry into Stuart Skinner’s expiring contract, Girard and two second-round picks.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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With Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery’s seven-day negotiating window expiring tonight, the David Ellison company has sweetened its bid from $30 a share, Deadline has confirmed.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After arriving on Netflix and Peacock, the flagship show unexpectedly broke streaming records and topped Nielsen's streaming charts for months on end in the midst of the Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes essentially halting production and postproduction on new shows.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Feb. 2026
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Let your inner animal roar with a traffic-halting color and an even bolder print.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The lower court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and the First Amendment, concluding that HR 1069 is overbroad and unconstitutional.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
25 Feb. 2026
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Texas State softball played six games in the River State Classic, winning four games between a bookend of losses, concluding Sunday with a 3-2 defeat in 10 innings to future Pac-12 opponent Colorado State.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Timing Tips For Trimming And Pruning Spring-flowering trees and shrubs should be pruned immediately after blooming to encourage more blooms for reblooming plants or to avoid cutting off buds that have set for next year’s blooms.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 Feb. 2026
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In Tennessee, Republican leaders have worked with the White House to craft a package of bills aimed at cutting off any state spending on unauthorized residents, in part by creating immigration checks for public school children.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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If the patient moves, the system can react instantly, shutting off the beam to help prevent harm to healthy tissue, according to a press release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
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When the construction project starts next year, the road into the basin will be closed, shutting off access to the area.—
Liz Teitz,
San Antonio Express-News,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20off. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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