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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of breaks off
Each one of those, in this quantum theory, breaks off into another block of cheese.
—
Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
State officials compared the project to Boise’s Flying Wye, where the I-184 Connector breaks off from I-84 west of downtown Boise.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Mahama breaks off in exasperation.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The scene where ‘80s teen Marty McFly borrows a scooter from a bewildered ‘50s kid and breaks off the handles to make a skateboard is one of the film’s most iconic moments.
—Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Second, the flowing glacier brings more ice forward to replace what breaks off, slowing the cliff’s inland retreat and making a chain reaction of cliff toppling less likely.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
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
Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
State officials compared the project to Boise’s Flying Wye, where the I-184 Connector breaks off from I-84 west of downtown Boise.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Mahama breaks off in exasperation.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The scene where ‘80s teen Marty McFly borrows a scooter from a bewildered ‘50s kid and breaks off the handles to make a skateboard is one of the film’s most iconic moments.
—Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Second, the flowing glacier brings more ice forward to replace what breaks off, slowing the cliff’s inland retreat and making a chain reaction of cliff toppling less likely.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks off
Verb
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If a person with HIV stops taking ART, the virus begins spreading again.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The future of the investigation is uncertain, as the committee often stops investigating when lawmakers resign.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Creating that kind of structure, Manning suggests, is essential to easing the pressure teachers carry long after the school day ends.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
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The company in the new agreement removed the biggest obstacle — the right to keep workers for at least three hours after their shift ends at its discretion — from their proposal Local 12775 Vice President Vern Beck told the Post-Tribune Friday.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Officials discussed both diplomatic and economic measures their countries could implement now and after the fighting ceases to help secure the shipping route, according to NPR's Fatima Al-Kassab.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
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In a different scenario, assigned a probability of 60%, the conflict ceases at the end of this month and oil prices fall quickly.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Shares fell 9% in extended trading on Thursday after the streaming giant released its first-quarter earnings report and announced that Reed Hastings, Netflix's co-founder and current chairman, would exit the board in June when his term expires.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
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The streamer on Thursday announced that its co-founder and chairman would relinquish his spot on the Netflix board in June, when his current term expires.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay, which immediately halts most collection actions, including garnishment.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
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And even if Israel halts its strikes on Iran, there’s no guarantee Tehran will reciprocate.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The women were informed that filming for season five was to be paused until production’s investigation, which is separate from the law enforcement investigation, concludes.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
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That concludes today’s newsletter.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the rocket’s core stage cuts off, the zero G indicator will begin to float, identifying the moment when the crew is officially in space.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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Turning your phone off or using airplane mode cuts off wireless communication while still allowing alarms to work.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Miles projects as a commanding dynamo who will cause havoc with her ability to play at a high tempo in transition, move the ball quickly in the half-court offense and deliver no-look passes from any angle.—
Matthew Coller,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
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If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20off. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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