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
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
The women’s team’s ownership structure broke off from the men’s side two years ago — exactly how the split works is still unclear.
—Emily Olsen, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
The clip holding the ribbon to her medal broke off.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 8 Feb. 2026
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
The women’s team’s ownership structure broke off from the men’s side two years ago — exactly how the split works is still unclear.
—Emily Olsen, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
The clip holding the ribbon to her medal broke off.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke off
Verb
-
The celebration, held Saturday at Safford's home, featured a drive-by parade and well-wishers who stopped to honor the centenarian whose life has spanned a century of American history.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Goalie Daniil Tarasov stopped 19 of 25 shots.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Iowa in 2022 cut its unemployment insurance from 26 weeks to 16, and a federal program for workers who lost their jobs due to foreign trade has expired.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The tax credits helped lower the cost of monthly premiums for about 22 million Americans covered under the ACA and expired at the end of 2025, with no plans by Congress to extend them.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
After less than two weeks of training, hostilities ceased almost completely.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Mustangs’ season ended March 6 with a 23-11 record after a 69-56 loss to Bishop McNamara in the Class 2A Seneca Sectional final.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The rally followed a recent fact-finding process—a formal step in labor negotiations—which took place last Monday and Wednesday, during which union leaders said the district ended discussions early.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ukraine and Hungary have been locked in an escalating feud since Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia were halted in January as the result of damage to the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory.—
LORNE COOK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Amid the war, Iran has effectively halted nearly all tanker movement in the key Strait of Hormuz, cutting off a vital passageway where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil once sailed through on a typical day.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
An extensive Reuters investigation concluded the man responsible for wall murals spotted on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean were created by English artist Robin Gunningham.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
When the funeral concluded after about 75 minutes Monday, the procession ended at Cedar Grove Cemetery, on the edge of campus.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Danish culinary star has quit Noma after abuse allegations from former employees.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Ternier also quit her nursing job to canvas fulltime for Bien-Aime during his mayoral run, according to the profile, which also notes that two of his children have political aspirations.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Frontman Caleb Harper explained the song was left off the album but always destined to surface.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
14 Mar. 2026
-
From there, the pathway was open to where Spoelstra wanted to head, So, full stream ahead for building his case for honors for Adebayo on the defensive side of the ball, with Adebayo having been left off the NBA All-Defensive team last year.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20off. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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