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 ended
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 broken off
Current data suggests the asteroid features a bright surface made of solid rock, possibly broken off of a distant planet or another asteroid.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 18 Sep. 2025
Tyler Warren and Jonathan Taylor have each broken off explosive pass plays.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
Two park signs and a memorial tree were damaged, with the bottom half of one sign broken off and the other kicked down, splitting it in half.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The new research focused on clasts, fragments broken off from the mountain during the landslide.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025
Within a few minutes, whatever was on the other end had broken off the 80-pound line.
—Jack Prator, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 18 Sep. 2025
Tyler Warren and Jonathan Taylor have each broken off explosive pass plays.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
Two park signs and a memorial tree were damaged, with the bottom half of one sign broken off and the other kicked down, splitting it in half.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The new research focused on clasts, fragments broken off from the mountain during the landslide.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025
Within a few minutes, whatever was on the other end had broken off the 80-pound line.
—Jack Prator, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken off
Verb
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Nexstar Media Group, one of the ABC affiliates which last week stopped airing Jimmy Kimmel Live!—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Australia stopped stamping most passports in 2012 in favor of electronic immigration records, and New Zealand followed suit in 2016.—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Bryant ended his Cowboys career with the most receiving touchdowns for any receiver in team history (73).—
Mark Kern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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The Reds’ game ended while the Mets were playing in the sixth inning.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In 2013, benefit verification and card replacements were halted, though applications and address changes were still processed.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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In February, Niccol announced the layoff of 1,100 employees, and halted hiring for hundreds of open positions.—
Lori Comstock,
Freep.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After about two more decades of ice retreat, two tributaries to the north and south of the Alsek Glacier ceased feeding ice to the glacier, NASA reported.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
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Subsequently, according to Steinhauer, Robinson ceased having any further communications with Colvin.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The country concluded its general elections with Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity winning an overall majority.—
Rajeev Tyagi,
ABC News,
29 Sep. 2025
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While the data during the peak of the Covid closures was even weaker, the increasing number of store closures and mounting cost pressures on tenants are likely to further dampen rent growth in the next several quarters, the report concluded.—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Notice an uptick in aggressive driving behaviors like red-light running, speeding, tailgating, honking and cutting off other vehicles while on the road?—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
23 Sep. 2025
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Ragasa, known in the Philippines as Nando, made landfall as a super typhoon over Panuitan Island, in the northern Cagayan province, on Monday, damaging homes, cutting off roads, and triggering landslides.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Studies show that when couples use no contraception, about 30 percent of fertilized eggs never implant, and another 30 percent implant briefly before being passed from the body usually without the woman ever knowing.—
Mimi Zieman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Some state legislatures have passed grant programs meant to help schools foot the bill for those upgrades, including in Texas and Florida, where mass shootings at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas in 2018 and Robb Elementary School in 2022 rattled the country.—
Tonya Simpson,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Electrical and gas lines were both shut off to prevent hazards, authorities added.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
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Gas was shut off as police and fire crews went door to door to evacuate citizens.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broken off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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