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
Lumpkins’ fingernails were broken off because she had been dragged from under the bed.
—
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Barber, the detective, testified that the tip of that knife was broken off, and there appeared to be blood on the blade and handle.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
Already one had broken off and, sadly the second one came from the top.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
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
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Barber, the detective, testified that the tip of that knife was broken off, and there appeared to be blood on the blade and handle.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
Already one had broken off and, sadly the second one came from the top.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken off
Verb
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The move comes weeks after Microsoft stopped providing some services to an Israeli defense unit.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
-
There is no data showing how many of those minors married other minors, and which married adults for recent years, as the state stopped collecting that data in 2022.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Jim Irsay stood beside his private jet just days after the 2021 season ended and made sure the camera was rolling to capture his thoughts.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
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The first four episodes of Netflix's Squid Game reality competition series ended on an intense cliffhanger.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The film only made $41 million at the box office and effectively halted the franchise.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
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The family filed a suit contesting their deportation, court records show, and it was briefly halted before a judge ruled against them in July.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While Sam's Club has ceased distribution and product sales, there may be consumers who still have the product at their homes, according to the FDA's release.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
But in 2019, Gullane ceased communications with Wild, according to the complaint.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut off federal funding to New York City — and even take control of it — if Mamdani won.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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When the government cut off SNAP payments to poor families, a small restaurant-owner in Owensboro stepped in to give people free food.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As dinner concluded, Cynthia Erivo took the microphone to invite everyone to continue the celebration.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
2 Nov. 2025
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Finally, panelists concluded by talking about the importance of guardrails that protect creators and their intellectual property.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Greater Cincinnati Water Works will not shut off water for customers who don't pay their bills – if those customers have been furloughed from federal jobs or denied SNAP benefits.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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Liz Marx, director of the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project, worries about families whose utility service is currently shut off who are counting on LIHEAP to restore services.—
NPR,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Today, the American Royal still hosts its annual rodeo, equestrian show, livestock show, and the World Series of Barbecue, but gone are the days of horses, cattle, and marching bands parading through downtown Kansas City — or anywhere else.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
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Grech Motors has been around for more than four decades now, during which time it’s gone from building stretch limousines to high-end luxury shuttle buses and people movers.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broken off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20off. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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