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
-
In the months before the shooting, Mangione’s once active online presence stopped, and his mother filed a missing persons’ report.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Once the match started, the tours of the property stopped and all attention turned to the soccer game.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Both tournaments brought disappointment and his reign as coach ended after being confronted at the team’s hotel in Abidjan by angry supporters.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Fox's paranormal sci-fi series was absolutely beyond its time and still holds up well over a decade after its five-season run ended.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
One of the largest online stores used by Cuban exiles to send goods to relatives on the island has halted operations, reducing options for families who rely on digital services amid Cuba’s deepening economic crisis.—
Vera Lucia Pappaterra,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
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While Democratic leaders officially threw their support behind Platner after Mills halted her campaign, many of them remained circumspect about him.—
Philissa Cramer,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Communication ceased for 28 years, which is so long that their silence is now constitutionally eligible to be in the House of Representatives.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
-
The waiting only ceased with the collapse of the regime in 1990.—
Marzio G. Mian,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Throughout the episode, Whoopi Goldberg struggled to cut to commercial break, repeatedly having to cut off her co-hosts in heated interactions with the vice president.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
16 June 2026
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Prices soared as the supply was effectively cut off, and shipments probably will take a long time to return to pre-war levels.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The West-Batula news fractured the cast due to secrecy and betrayals, and the fallout from the off-camera events has played out over an explosive three-part reunion that concluded last week.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
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After the six previous matches concluded rather quickly with bloodless knockouts (a UFC record), the fight between American Gaethje and the German-born, Georgia and Spain-representing Topuria lasted much longer.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Middle Eastern oil wells were largely shut off during the war.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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The model developer has since shut off access to both systems to all customers to ensure compliance.—
Maggie Eastland,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
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.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
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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.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20off. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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