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
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Recent Examples of broke off
The movie is clearly aimed at a certain audience who watched Saturday morning cartoons back in the day and, if their He-Man figure’s arm broke off, would use Faker as their resident Eternian hero.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 June 2026
This year’s season was delayed after a huge section of the icefall broke off and blocked the route to the summit.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
The former couple and Gigli costars met in 2002 while filming the movie and got engaged in November of that same year, but broke off their engagement in January 2004.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
The couple broke off their engagement the following June, however.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 23 May 2026
Two of Rubén’s older sons, who married Russian acrobats during international stints, broke off and founded their own troupe as Circus Caballero.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
The windstorm from the fans raged until the home eventually broke off from its remaining anchors, rolling completely over not once, but twice.
—Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
As OutKick previously reported, Megan broke off her relationship with the NBA star last week after accusing him of cheating.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Sources confirm to People and TMZ that Zoë Kravitz and Channing Tatum broke off their engagement after three years together.
—Hannah Madlener, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2026
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 June 2026
This year’s season was delayed after a huge section of the icefall broke off and blocked the route to the summit.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
The former couple and Gigli costars met in 2002 while filming the movie and got engaged in November of that same year, but broke off their engagement in January 2004.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
The couple broke off their engagement the following June, however.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 23 May 2026
Two of Rubén’s older sons, who married Russian acrobats during international stints, broke off and founded their own troupe as Circus Caballero.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
The windstorm from the fans raged until the home eventually broke off from its remaining anchors, rolling completely over not once, but twice.
—Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
As OutKick previously reported, Megan broke off her relationship with the NBA star last week after accusing him of cheating.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Sources confirm to People and TMZ that Zoë Kravitz and Channing Tatum broke off their engagement after three years together.
—Hannah Madlener, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke off
Verb
-
Not that long after, a guard near the New York Stock Exchange stopped me.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
-
Stosic delivered one giant hammer fist to Hardy’s jaw and the referee came in and stopped the bout.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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At the same time, the district faced mounting financial pressures after federal stimulus funds that the city received following the 2008 recession expired.—
Julia McWilliams,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
-
Toss expired products like sunscreen and bug spray to ensure safety and effectiveness during summer activities.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Another location in central Pennsylvania ceased operations on May 24, according to reporting from ABC 27 News, an ABC affiliate based in Harrisburg.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The Climb’s financing never materialized, prep was ceased, and by January 2025, the whole venture collapsed when rights to the film lapsed.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The superintendent of the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District said that a shooting took place after the graduation ceremonies had ended.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
The SoCal Indie Bestsellers List for the sales week ended May 31 is based on reporting from the independent booksellers of Southern California, the California Independent Booksellers Alliance and IndieBound.—
Staff report,
Daily News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The country’s growth outlook has darkened due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has effectively halted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up energy and commodities prices globally.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
The World Health Organization halted its trial of hydroxychloroquine after a large, randomized study conducted in the United Kingdom found the drug lacked any apparent effect on mortality when treating COVID-19.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The turning point came in the late summer of 2015, just after the Iran nuclear deal was concluded.—
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
-
In September, an independent UN inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a finding the Israeli government rejected.—
Sana Noor Haq,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The Forest Service has denied that the pending closures are intended to force workers to quit and has suggested that employees in the facilities being evaluated for shut down would be consolidated into one location in Colorado.—
Chiara Eisner,
NPR,
6 June 2026
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Such events quit being for the common fan a while ago.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The hit Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon returns for its third season on HBO Max on June 21, picking up where Season 2 left off in the heart of the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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The series finale picked up right where the previous episode left off, with Faye screaming and thereby outing Rue’s delicate exit plan, and then escaping herself alongside her boyfriend-dealer Wayne (Toby Wallace).—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20off. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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