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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Experts believe Wednesday's mudslides and flash flooding across Nepal and China's Tibet region were caused by a large chunk of ice breaking off a glacier and falling into the Lhende Khola River. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The AccuWeather team will be looking for smaller storm cells breaking off of the main line, which would give them freedom to begin rotating and potentially spin off a tornado funnel. — Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026 Later videos appeared to show the top of the rocket breaking off in flight. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking off

Verb

Michael Busch followed with a strikeout on a pitch-clock violation for calling time a second time in the at-bat, then Alex Bregman hit into an inning-ending double play on the next pitch.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Cheap cliffhanger ending aside, the rest of the episode proves an emotionally satisfying kickoff for the final stretch of the season, laying Joe’s only shot at redemption, both mortally and spiritually, at the feet of her team.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of ending

Verb

Republicans edge out Democrats on keeping people safe, crime prevention, and reducing and stopping violent crime.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026
With Doak’s game clock defunct, ESPN peeled off one of its scorebug operators to shadow the officials, starting and stopping the on-screen time by hand, second by second.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of stopping

Verb

Renegotiation allowed Woodland to focus on drawbacks of the expiring contract, but unclear performance metrics during negotiations complicated the process.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Democrats withheld their votes first to pressure Republicans to extend expiring subsidies for health insurance premiums, prompting a 43-day shutdown that ended in November.

— Sam Gringlas, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of expiring

Verb

Either the Chiefs or Broncos have won the division for the past 16 seasons, with Denver halting Kansas City’s nine-year streak of division championships last year.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026
The space agency resumed observations with the telescope late last month after halting them early this year to conserve power.

— Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of halting

Verb

The Supreme Court lifted an injunction last month after concluding the challenge was premature because USPS had not issued a final rule.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026
With only a few hours of the window remaining on Tuesday, Palace were concluding an extraordinary 10 incoming and outgoing deals.

— Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of concluding

Verb

The episode isn’t quite done, despite leaving off on an explosive note.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
This does have the effect of, at times, including star NHL players while leaving off players who are still in the minors and have a chance to make the league.

— Corey Pronman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025