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
The victim fought off Mohammed after being stabbed, holding onto the blade of a kitchen knife using a towel until the blade broke off the handle.
—
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
The studios negotiated for more than a month with the performers’ union in February and March, but broke off in order to turn their attention to the writers.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Apr. 2026
Sixty yards beyond, the ridge broke off sharply in three directions.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
The studios negotiated for more than a month with the performers’ union in February and March, but broke off in order to turn their attention to the writers.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Apr. 2026
Sixty yards beyond, the ridge broke off sharply in three directions.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke off
Verb
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The bands stopped precisely at the midline of her body, and the pigmentation of her right side was entirely normal.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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My parents took me on my first flight at three months old and never stopped, raising me in a world that stretched far beyond home.—
Shayla Martin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Strikes are only legal if a bargaining agreement has expired or terminated, and CTU is currently mid-contract with a no-strike clause in place, King wrote.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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The Predators slathered on a fifth goal just after their power play expired, Ryan Ufko’s stretch pass sprung Tyson Jost.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The payments ceased when the judge in the Skaggs family’s civil case made a pre-trial ruling that both sides must accept Kay’s conviction and the facts established in his criminal proceedings.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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In 1903, a vicious winter storm reduced most of the piers to splinters, and by 1906 offshore oil production at Summerland had all but ceased.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Jags ended the season with a 34-6 record and as District 8-5A champions.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
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The ordinance was proposed by Legislative Vice Chair Sean Smith, who recently ended his bid for Congress.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Hulu announced that filming on the latest season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives would be halted amid reports of the altercation and a police investigation in Draper, Utah.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
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The appellate court halted the order on an appeal.—
Mike Schneider,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The office’s director of investigations Ross Barnett allegations of 53 war crimes had been investigated and 39 of those investigations had concluded without charges.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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As Hansen concluded the announcement, the crew gathered around in Integrity to share a hug.—
Stevie Bonifield,
The Verge,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the Greeley plant, union officials said the company tried to intimidate workers to quit the union in one-on-one meetings, union general counsel Matt Shechter said.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
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Still, cuts to the airport security agency would come at a critical time for air travel with rising concerns about air safety after more than 500 TSA officers quit in recent weeks and amid a longstanding shortage of air traffic controllers.—
Reuters,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 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 11 Apr. 2026.
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