1
as in stopped
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 expired
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of broke off
After remarks from a handful of speakers, most of the crowd broke off into a march through the streets.
—
Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Mar. 2026
In April 2024, Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with Ecuador following a military raid on the Mexican Embassy in Quito.
—CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
His future wife broke off their engagement in 1960.
—Eric Olson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Last year, his boat got stuck in ice that broke off the nearby glacier.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
On both flights, the nozzles on one of the boosters became engulfed in flames and broke off during liftoff.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
The gust tore the vertical fin from the tail and hurled it into the left horizontal stabilizer, which broke off in turn.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Duncan defied his father’s wishes and broke off an engagement with Lyonel Baratheon’s daughter to marry a commoner, Jaehaerys and Shaera had a traditionally incestuous Targaryen relationship, and Daeron died in battle.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
About 10 minutes later, one or two members of the group broke off to spray-paint vehicles and the guard booth.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated February 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Feb. 2026
Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Mar. 2026
In April 2024, Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with Ecuador following a military raid on the Mexican Embassy in Quito.
—CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
His future wife broke off their engagement in 1960.
—Eric Olson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Last year, his boat got stuck in ice that broke off the nearby glacier.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
On both flights, the nozzles on one of the boosters became engulfed in flames and broke off during liftoff.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
The gust tore the vertical fin from the tail and hurled it into the left horizontal stabilizer, which broke off in turn.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Duncan defied his father’s wishes and broke off an engagement with Lyonel Baratheon’s daughter to marry a commoner, Jaehaerys and Shaera had a traditionally incestuous Targaryen relationship, and Daeron died in battle.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
About 10 minutes later, one or two members of the group broke off to spray-paint vehicles and the guard booth.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated February 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke off
Verb
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His words were underscored when police in Israel stopped Catholic leaders from celebrating a private Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built on the spot where Jesus was thought to have been crucified.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Right away, the Bruins allowed point-blank chances to Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner in the opening minutes that Swayman stopped.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For years, lawyers have alleged that inmates receive expired, undercooked or contaminated food, including spoiled meat and deteriorated dairy products.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Ground stops that had been in place at O'Hare and Midway airports also have expired.—
Laura Bannon,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Van Ackers delivered photos of the spouting fountain, which had ceased operating in 2012, to every member of the California Legislature.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Commercial traffic through the maritime chokepoint has virtually ceased since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, with Iran vowing to strike any vessels associated with the two countries or their partners.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s also jointly ended their partnership in July 2025 after finding the venture financially unsustainable, leading to over $50 million in charges for the doughnut company.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
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After Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war ended, Hezbollah was the only group to be allowed to keep its weapons as it was considered a resistance movement fighting Israel that was occupying parts of southern Lebanon.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Unlike most toddlers with similar ambitions, however, Caldwell continued his excavation for over two years, until bedrock finally halted his efforts.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The program was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In just a decade, such an event has become about four times more likely due to climate change, the analysis concluded.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Chalker concluded that the test was primarily assessing his psychology.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nearly 500 of the agency’s approximately 50,000 officers have quit since the partial shutdown started, the department said.—
John Raby,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
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Multiple airports have been experiencing greater than 40% callout rates of TSA workers, and nearly 500 of the agency’s nearly 50,000 transportation security officers have quit during the shutdown.—
Kevin Freking,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Spring cleaning may be at the top of your list right now, but one thing money experts believe shouldn't be left off the checklist is your credit.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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And then, if there were curvature present in significant amounts, curvature would begin to dominate the Universe’s expansion rate, taking over where matter left off.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20off. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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