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
Courtesy of Rizzotti Advisors The Egadi Islands, off the western coast of Sicily, feel almost untouched, as if the Mediterranean broke off a few fragments and left them in place.
—
Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
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
Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke off
Verb
-
In the months before the shooting, Mangione’s once active online presence stopped, and his mother filed a missing persons’ report.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Once the match started, the tours of the property stopped and all attention turned to the soccer game.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The entire Pittsburgh area was under a severe thunderstorm watch that has since expired.—
Trey Fulbright,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
-
The restraining order expired in 2022.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Bolt Threads ceased production of its Mylo leather alternative in 2023, after failing to secure enough funding to reach commercial scale.—
Bella Webb,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
-
But when the exhilaration of change had ceased, London was no good.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Zach Neto was hit by a pitch and Mike Trout ended an 0-for-22 slump with a single to load the bases.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
If the season ended Tuesday, Chicago would have the second AL wild-card spot.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Iran temporarily halted enrichment, but resumed it in 2006.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
The event was halted after an hour due to fears about her safety, which distressingly encapsulates a tension that the trans Mayan artist has navigated for years.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The West-Batula news fractured the cast due to secrecy and betrayals, and the fallout from the off-camera events has played out over an explosive three-part reunion that concluded last week.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
-
After the six previous matches concluded rather quickly with bloodless knockouts (a UFC record), the fight between American Gaethje and the German-born, Georgia and Spain-representing Topuria lasted much longer.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
How else to explain such relentlessness, such a refusal to stop even when most everyone would quit?—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Now, fast forward to 2026, the 24-year old Montgomery is a consequential, game-changing player on a team that never quits in a game.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
The nine hosts left off the ballot were more surprising.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
Season 4 of the Power prequel series left off on a major cliffhanger, as Kanan (Mekai Curtis) was holding his mom, Raq (Patina Miller), at gunpoint, and pulled the trigger as the screen went to black.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20off. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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