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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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, Scientific American, 28 June 2026 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

In their place remained the only just ending to this tournament.

— Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Michael Olise set him up twice to break Pele’s assist record from 1970 — the Frenchman’s tally ending as seven in the tournament.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of ending

Verb

Travel may be getting more expensive, but that isn’t stopping Americans from splurging on bucket-list vacations.

— Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026
Maria Alejandra Betancur said her father, Carlos Hugo Betancur, was recently detained while stopping for gas at a Marathon station on Northwest 58th Street in Doral.

— Ivan Taylor, Miami Herald, 15 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

Fraudsters send out mass text messages warning about unpaid tolls, expiring car registrations or pending arrests that are designed to scare consumers into providing their credit card information, email credentials or other sensitive data.

— Gabrielle Fonrouge,Scott Zamost,Anna Gleason, CNBC, 17 July 2026
That event will trigger the first wave of stock-sale lockups expiring.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 16 July 2026

Definition of expiring

Verb

Earlier in the day, the sharp decline in the Kospi prompted the Korea Exchange to activate a sell-side sidecar on the index, temporarily halting program trading.

— Sean Conlon,Hugh Leask,Justina Lee, CNBC, 19 July 2026
Turk filed for bankruptcy in June 2025 — halting any litigation from moving forward without permission from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas.

— Taylor O'Connor July 17, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026

Definition of halting

Verb

The storyline would then continue on Murphy Brown, concluding on High Society.

— Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
The court also reversed the lower court’s decision upholding the state’s 10-round magazine limit, concluding that those restrictions likewise violate the Constitution.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2026

Definition of concluding

Verb

Analysts note that Iran doesn’t need a huge inventory of drones and missiles to destabilize the region and keep the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut, cutting off around 20% of the world’s pre-war oil supplies.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Alongside cutting off Russian energy revenues, Ukraine’s drone attacks are designed to try to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring an end to the war.

— Sam Meredith,Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 9 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