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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breaks off
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
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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After the initial stomach issues subside, the toxin continues to invade the liver cells and stops them from making RNA (ribonucleic acid), which the body needs to make healing and protective proteins.—
Amy McGorry,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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In turn, breathing nearly stops, and its brain activity becomes barely detectable.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Both ends of the bridge have signs listing its height limit, and various other warning signs pepper the road leading up to the historic structure.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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By the end of the season, Siena ends the affair for good and moves on with another man.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The world never ceases to produce grist for discussion.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
30 Dec. 2025
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Rithy has made several films about the Cambodian victims of the Khmer Rouge era, but here the focus seems to be on the crucible of disillusionment through which everyone must pass when the world ceases to cohere with our vision of it.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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After the Pay-1 deal term expires, the film enters the Pay-2 window, where the studio exclusively licenses it to another streaming platform for additional revenue.—
Joseph M. Singer,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
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The last major nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States expires Thursday, ushering in an era without caps set by the world’s largest nuclear powers.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Should any of these conditions not be met, the contract halts and notifies all relevant parties.—
Matthew Kayser,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Jan. 2026
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Flights at New York City at LaGuardia Airport and JFK faced slight delays and halts Saturday afternoon.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Under the current proposal, the regulatory pathway could also be imposed on Healthy Rivers and Landscapes participants if the State Water Board concludes the voluntary approach is falling short.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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The daytime talk show will end its run after its seventh season concludes in the fall.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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The drug cuts off access to vitamin A in the testes by blocking a receptor known as RAR alpha.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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My Grandmother's Go-To Seasoning Now, every family tends to have a seasoning that gets used the most, and it often can be traced back to the relative who passes down recipes and makes the meanest pimiento cheese in town.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
1 Feb. 2026
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And as time passes, manufacturer incentives fade away.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20off. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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