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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking off
Verb
-
France passes budget after failed no-confidence votes France passed an annual budget, ending a long-running debacle that felled prime ministers, amplified support for the far right, and raised doubts over the country’s long-term finances.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Newsome played for Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, at Michigan and then joined the Wolverines as a student assistant in 2018 after suffering a career-ending injury.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the day wears on, the interview subjects recall their WhatsApp groups lighting up, until more people from the surrounding buildings add to the sea of residents stopping the van from taking off.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Teams will fill the rocket’s tank with more than 700,000 gallons of super-cold fuel, stopping a half-minute short of when the engines would light.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The anti-trapping bills that are pumped through legislatures each year show no signs of ceasing.—
Skye Goode,
Outdoor Life,
29 Jan. 2026
-
To cope with the situation, Perez would often tighten his budget by ceasing to go out with friends and cutting some corners to save extra money.—
Alvaro Acosta,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The fate of hundreds of thousands of Haitian immigrants in the United States hangs in the balance, despite a federal judge’s injunction that stopped their immigration status from expiring.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Huerter, who turns 28 this summer, began the day as one of Chicago’s eight expiring contracts.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The leaks cropped up early in Monday’s loading operation and again hours later, ultimately halting the countdown clocks at the five-minute mark.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Top New York Democrats celebrate Sunrise Wind ruling Danish company Orsted sued the administration over halting both Sunrise Wind and its Revolution Wind for Rhode Island and Connecticut.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trump has long alleged, without evidence and despite multiple independent reviews concluding the opposite, that the 2020 election was stolen from him.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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The Oscars, which are concluding a decades-long run with ABC and Disney, will follow a growing selection of live programming streamed on YouTube, including the first-ever NFL game last fall.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In 2024, King Charles took his efforts one step further by cutting off Andrew's private security and allowance.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
30 Jan. 2026
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Instead, prune these shrubs after the flowers have begun to fall off in late spring to avoid cutting off the buds that will be next year’s blooms.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
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The plan discussed in committee would also create parameters for providers shutting off water service to residents.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20off. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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