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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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The legislation also stops courts from considering religious codes, including Islamic Sharia law, in legal cases.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The fun on 404 Day stops with Atlanta United.—
Amna Subhan,
AJC.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The exact place where South ends and North begins was carefully pointed out to me by a group of Southern men tidying the ditches for the local council.—
Colm Tóibín,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Once the countdown ends, users are shown detailed, text-heavy outlooks — including conditions, storm chances, wind speeds and temperatures — presented in bold gradient panels and block-style fonts.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
3 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
-
Moran earned an annual base salary of $186,953, and his contract expires June 30.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Her current status expires at the end of April.—
Mathew Miranda
Updated March 31,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Doing so triggers an automatic stay, which immediately halts most wage garnishments while the case is processed.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
6 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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They must be formally submitted to the International Astronomical Union after the mission concludes.—
Ryan Brennan
April 7,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
-
That concludes today’s newsletter.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
7 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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An elevated rail line passes through to carry coal to the rest of the country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
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And Tehran’s stranglehold on the strait — through which a fifth of the world’s oil typically passes each day — has already driven up energy prices worldwide, raising fears of an impending oil shock.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20off. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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