1
as in stops
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ends
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 breaks off
The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.
—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks off
Verb
-
To begin with, their source data on funding priorities stops at 2007, leaving a roughly 15-year gap where research funding can't be analyzed, but patents are still being filed.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
25 Sep. 2025
-
There was an awkward pause before the couple did what everyone does when an escalator stops escalating.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Louisville lawmakers have passed an ordinance that ends permit requirements for some protests — an effort led by a Republican council member who has in the past called out Mayor Craig Greenberg's administration for not enforcing the city's permitting rules.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Sep. 2025
-
With durable designs and timeless style, these pieces will make holiday cooking easier — and continue to serve you long after the season ends.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Without any of the three, money once again ceases to circulate.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Some of the details may subtly shift between each retelling, but the story always remains the same and never ceases to grab attention.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The threat of another MLB lockout looms when the current Basic Agreement expires after the 2026 season.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The Little Rock Board of Directors must confirm Buchanan's reappointment to the panel, which would be for a five-year term that expires in September 2030.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Gun-toting Henry halts the escaping car and holds the nefarious trio at gunpoint.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Antihydra almost certainly never halts.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The tour kicks off February 11, 2026, in Palm Desert before making stops at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, and concludes on April 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Bogdan concludes the meeting by extending to me a special thank-you for speaking with the spring intern.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For males, this means a vasectomy, which is a surgical procedure that cuts off the supply of sperm to the semen.—
Kelly Burch Published,
Verywell Health,
15 Sep. 2025
-
As cable loses subscribers, that inherently cuts off access to networks like TNT.—
John Cassillo,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Uber is also making both these passes available for its teen accounts.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Temperatures are expected to dip into the lower 70s in the hottest places by Wednesday and stay there even after the rain passes and the weekend arrives, the weather service forecast.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share