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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of broke off
Perry broke off her long engagement to actor Orlando Bloom last year.
—
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2026
But during that process, part of the fishing gear broke off, along with the tracking buoy.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
But in short order, its head broke off its body, chipped and got covered in ash.
—Jason Carroll, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
The main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, is reportedly teaming up with Komeito, which used to be part of the LDP coalition but broke off after the far-right Takaichi became LDP leader.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
Three bargaining units, representing probation officers, marshals and other Judicial Branch staff, broke off talks with Lamont about compensation in early July.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
However, shortly before reuniting at David's wedding, Poppy learns — via Alex's brother — that Alex and Sarah broke off their engagement, but doesn't know why.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Running back Kewan Lacy, who entered the game with 23 rushing touchdowns, broke off a 73-yard run for a score to put the Rebels ahead 7-3.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
Soon after, Davis broke off his engagement to Canadian dancer Joan Stuart.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 18 Dec. 2025
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2026
But during that process, part of the fishing gear broke off, along with the tracking buoy.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
But in short order, its head broke off its body, chipped and got covered in ash.
—Jason Carroll, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
The main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, is reportedly teaming up with Komeito, which used to be part of the LDP coalition but broke off after the far-right Takaichi became LDP leader.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
Three bargaining units, representing probation officers, marshals and other Judicial Branch staff, broke off talks with Lamont about compensation in early July.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
However, shortly before reuniting at David's wedding, Poppy learns — via Alex's brother — that Alex and Sarah broke off their engagement, but doesn't know why.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Running back Kewan Lacy, who entered the game with 23 rushing touchdowns, broke off a 73-yard run for a score to put the Rebels ahead 7-3.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
Soon after, Davis broke off his engagement to Canadian dancer Joan Stuart.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke off
Verb
-
Ross, who was one of several federal agents involved in the arrest, initially drew his service weapon, but holstered the gun after Muñoz-Guatemala stopped his car and raised his hands, according to the affidavit.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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Braddy stopped the car, got Quantisha back inside, and put Shandelle in the trunk, before driving for 30 to 45 minutes.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The drop comes after enhanced federal subsidies expired, leaving many Americans struggling with soaring monthly payments.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
-
With Miami-Dade’s current inspector general, Felix Jimenez, still awaiting a reappointment vote more than a year after his contract expired, the commissioner behind that delay wants to broaden the hiring criteria for Jimenez’s position.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then all movement ceased and he was pronounced dead 22 minutes later.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The lawsuit effectively shut down GARM, which ceased operations citing limited resources to fight the legal battle.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That lawsuit ended earlier this month after the immigrant detainee who filed the case agreed to be removed from the United States.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Al-Maliki ended his second term in 2014 after the Obama administration’s growing frustration with his security blind spots that saw the rise of the Islamic State in the same year across a large swathe of Iraqi and Syrian territory.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The last time a male contraceptive drug got that far was in 2011, when a trial of hormonal injections had to be halted over safety concerns.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Yad Vashem reported that the murder of Vilna’s Jews halted temporarily in 1941.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The panel concluded the order was both overly broad and impermissibly vague, raising constitutional and practical concerns.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
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The judge concluded program participants could not be Salvation Army employees because there was no express or implied agreement they would be compensated.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hechtman, who quit drinking in 2021 after participating in Dry January, a challenge to abstain from alcohol for 31 days, said her social life has flourished since then.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Eskander had been part of the original canon committee, but quit a year into the work.—
Colton Valentine,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Much to his chagrin, he was left off the roster in the AL Division Series against the Tigers.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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The music video picks up on the runway where Moroney's Cloud 9 tracklist reveal video left off.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20off. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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