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
Firefighters found that the beam had broken off and toppled, throwing the workers roughly 30 feet and trapping one inside a concrete formwork platform.
—
Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Photos provided by James showed a football-sized black rock that appeared to be broken off a larger chunk of material.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
By the time glacial ice from the era receded and temperatures warmed enough for the ectotherms, Ireland had broken off from the European continent and was inaccessible to roaming reptiles.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Like Andrew, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also claimed to have broken off contact with Epstein—in his case, in 2005, after seeing Epstein’s massage room in New York—but the files revealed that the association continued for many years afterward.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
The same tip had already broken off during an act of vandalism in 2016, Rome’s city hall said.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
The video sees Strelow attempt to reattach the medal before realizing — like Johnson — that the small clasp connecting the medal to the ribbon had broken off as well.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
The tip of the knife blade was broken off.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 3 Feb. 2026
After that mission, NASA found chunks of the heat shield had broken off, leaving divots in the charred Avcoat material.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Photos provided by James showed a football-sized black rock that appeared to be broken off a larger chunk of material.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
By the time glacial ice from the era receded and temperatures warmed enough for the ectotherms, Ireland had broken off from the European continent and was inaccessible to roaming reptiles.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Like Andrew, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also claimed to have broken off contact with Epstein—in his case, in 2005, after seeing Epstein’s massage room in New York—but the files revealed that the association continued for many years afterward.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
The same tip had already broken off during an act of vandalism in 2016, Rome’s city hall said.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
The video sees Strelow attempt to reattach the medal before realizing — like Johnson — that the small clasp connecting the medal to the ribbon had broken off as well.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
The tip of the knife blade was broken off.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 3 Feb. 2026
After that mission, NASA found chunks of the heat shield had broken off, leaving divots in the charred Avcoat material.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken off
Verb
-
His words were underscored when police in Israel stopped Catholic leaders from celebrating a private Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built on the spot where Jesus was thought to have been crucified.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Right away, the Bruins allowed point-blank chances to Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner in the opening minutes that Swayman stopped.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Oh, and after a Collins strikeout finally ended the streak in the sixth, Isbel promptly led off the bottom of the seventh with a home run.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
-
According to Max Preps, the JSerra Lions ended the 2025 season with a 3-7 record and went 0-5 in the Trinity League against powerhouse like Mater Dei.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike most toddlers with similar ambitions, however, Caldwell continued his excavation for over two years, until bedrock finally halted his efforts.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The program was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Political and police harassment hasn’t ceased.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The company ceased operations in 2018.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The perch is a little too small for bigger birds like mourning doves, and my voracious flock of starlings is often cut off.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Resistance is likely to be strongest among European governments, still shocked by Beijing’s threats last year to cut off supplies of rare earths — essential for clean tech — and worried about further hollowing out their own green industries.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In just a decade, such an event has become about four times more likely due to climate change, the analysis concluded.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Chalker concluded that the test was primarily assessing his psychology.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The war in Iran has essentially shut off oil tanker traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz, choking off about 20% of the world’s oil supply.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Fire Department had to shut off the system due to an existing pipe issue.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Requests for comment from key figures have largely gone unanswered.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But so far, the engagement and transparency process hasn’t gone well.—
Desiree Mathurin
March 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20off. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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