BREAKS OFF Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

breaks off

verb

present tense third-person singular of break off

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

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 According to the reports, the malfunctions occurred during the ride's signature ‘tilt' portion, where the segment of track containing the ride vehicle breaks off completely and tilts forward 45 degrees before reconnecting to another piece of track at a 90-degree angle to the ground below. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026 If the mouthpiece breaks off, try to remove it without digging into the skin. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026 That Sun team, led by Tina Charles, is beating the breaks off the Sparks. — Kiese Laymon, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks off

Verb

The global oil surplus should help commercial stockpiles bounce back, particularly if the rest of the world stops relying so much on the United States as the petroleum producer of last resort.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
If exception paths are undocumented, AI either stops too early or acts with false confidence.

— Sanjay Srivastava, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of stops

Verb

The funeral, which ends Thursday, was supposed to be a period of lower tensions.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Kentucky’s Senate succession law, which Republican legislators have twice changed during Beshear’s tenure, does not give the governor a role in picking a temporary successor should McConnell’s seat become vacant before his term ends.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026

Definition of ends

Verb

This is not only devastating because Aang appears fatally injured, but because if an Avatar dies in the Avatar State, the entire cycle of Avatar reincarnation ceases and the earth’s balance is forever lost.

— Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
What is surprising—indeed, almost shocking—is when a particular fashion ceases to change.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026

Definition of ceases

Verb

Burns previously rejected suggestions that the ethics investigation was politically motivated, noting that Anderson, a Republican, had already lost his primary election and will not return to the council after his term expires.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026
The Constitutional Court ruled that Tokayev can run again when his term expires in 2029 because his current tenure does not count under amendments to the constitution that were approved in a nationwide vote in March and came into force this month.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026

Definition of expires

Verb

This mechanism functions as a physical switch, giving operators an extra layer of direct control because shutting off the external neutron generator immediately halts the nuclear reaction.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
The countywide legislation halts zoning and permitting processes for data centers and BESS sites in unincorporated areas of Jackson County for 180 days, which sponsor Sean Smith and other legislators have said will create time for the county to set more detailed permanent land use policies.

— Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026