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
Negotiations with the stadium operators, Legends Global, were broken off last week after multiple bargaining sessions failed to reach an agreement.
—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
At that point, Preston had divorced Gage and also broken off an engagement to fellow actor Charlie Sheen.
—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
22 May 2026
The top of the column was broken off by vandals several years ago.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Beijing has broken off communication with Taiwan’s government, and in recent years, started sending warplanes and warships closer to the island in almost daily drills.
—
ABC News,
11 May 2026
The van was parked and unoccupied, and a key was broken off in the driver’s door lock, police said.
—
Cale Ahearn,
Baltimore Sun,
6 May 2026
It was found empty with a key broken off in the driver's side door lock, according to police.
—
Jt Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
The key had been broken off on the driver's side door.
—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
During meteor showers, Earthlings ooh and aah over bits of rock that have broken off comets or asteroids as the travel around the sun.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
20 Apr. 2026
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
At that point, Preston had divorced Gage and also broken off an engagement to fellow actor Charlie Sheen.
—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
22 May 2026
The top of the column was broken off by vandals several years ago.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Beijing has broken off communication with Taiwan’s government, and in recent years, started sending warplanes and warships closer to the island in almost daily drills.
—
ABC News,
11 May 2026
The van was parked and unoccupied, and a key was broken off in the driver’s door lock, police said.
—
Cale Ahearn,
Baltimore Sun,
6 May 2026
It was found empty with a key broken off in the driver's side door lock, according to police.
—
Jt Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
The key had been broken off on the driver's side door.
—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
During meteor showers, Earthlings ooh and aah over bits of rock that have broken off comets or asteroids as the travel around the sun.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken off
Verb
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Its domestic league stopped playing.
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Big Oil is not backing away from renewables because the energy transition has stopped.
Verb
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Kylee explained that Aven eventually ended things again, citing the damage done to their relationship.
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Morocco would rally to a 4-2 victory, advancing to the next round as Haiti’s journey ended.
Verb
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In the end that discussion was halted by Paramount’s superior bid.
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Just days after the White House confirmed the plans, a Kenyan court temporarily halted the proposal with Kenyan High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi upholding that decision and ordering the Kenyan government to cease all building and operations at the base while the case is resolved.
Verb
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While nearly 3,500 newspapers have ceased publication during the new millennium, the Daily Herald is nonetheless joining a growing chain in a shrinking industry.
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Serious headwinds Last July, months after construction at the site ceased, giving way to 4-foot-tall weeds, Bryant said that although the company had raised $9 million from investors, the project ran into serious headwinds.
Verb
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Through a series of measures starting in 2022, Washington has cut off China’s access to the cutting-edge GPUs, throttling Chinese companies’ efforts in competing for the top AI models with US tech giants.
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But Emerald Bay is gate-guarded, accessible only to residents, and its half-mile stretch of golden sand is bordered by the cliffs of two jutting points, geographically cutting off public access via other beaches.
Verb
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In a report made public on Monday, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South was triggered in early June 2021 when two connections between garage columns and the condominium’s pool deck failed.
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The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), aka the UK’s data protection watchdog, has now concluded a two-year investigation into the incident and has found that sensitive personal information was indeed deliberately misused.
Verb
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Utility companies have also shut off utilities to the house because of the crash, Pace said.
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In cool mode, the fan often stays on while the compressor shuts off, which continuously drains power just to push room-temperature air.
Verb
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The returning waves appear to have triggered movement along major tectonic plate boundaries around Japan, creating a broad seismic event that had gone unnoticed for years.
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As Burlington has opened stores, retailers across the spectrum — from Saks Global and Macy’s to Big Lots and Bed Bath & Beyond — have gone the other direction and closed doors.
Cite this Entry
“Broken off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20off. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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