CALL OFF Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

call off

verb

Definition of call off

as in to distract

to draw the attention or mind to something else she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cancel

to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of call off The Venezuelan government has not yet called off the search for survivors. — Fernanda Pesce, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Shortstop Francisco Lindor backed up and called off the converging outfielders before losing his footing and falling right in front of Tyrone Taylor, who tripped over Lindor while failing to make the catch. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026 In Pennsylvania and New Jersey alone, nearly a dozen July Fourth events have been called off or postponed because of the weather. — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026 The couple called off their engagement after being together for three years; the actors sparked a romance after Tatum starred in Kravitz's directorial debut, Blink Twice. — Robyn Merrett, InStyle, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for call off

Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off

Verb

Roschelle had seemed distracted lately, going to a bunch of doctors’ appointments, talking to Sapphire late at night.

— Jessica Contrera, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
During a recent concert where Graham Nash was speaking his mind about needless wars and his belief that the president started a war with Iran to distract from the Epstein files, someone in the audience yelled out.

— Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026

Definition of distract

Verb

Moghal said she was contacted by StubHub and told her tickets would remain canceled, then was later told the tickets would be available one hour before the game.

— Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz abruptly canceled a public event to hold an emergency security meeting.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 July 2026

Definition of cancel

Verb

De-extinction, in this line of thought, diverts vital resources from these more important conservation efforts.

— Taylor Dotson, Scientific American, 10 July 2026
The conflict is also deepening these vulnerabilities by diverting governments’ attention, capacity, and funding away from the climate resilience and adaptation investments their populations urgently need.

— Sarah Yerkes, Time, 10 July 2026

Definition of divert

Verb

In 1984, siblings Ramon, Ricard and Elvira were abandoned in a Barcelona train station with no luggage, no identification and no information about their family.

— Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
The government is somewhere in the middle – approving emergency AC units for hospitals while trying not to be seen as abandoning France’s insulation-first approach to heat.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Definition of abandon

Verb

Trump said early Friday said that the United States and Iran have agreed to continue peace talks, even though the ceasefire established by last month's preliminary deal has been scrapped.

— Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Jackson also called on her colleagues to scrap a test for gun regulations that that the court created in a landmark 2022 decision.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 11 July 2026

Definition of scrap

Verb

The United States also issued a waiver for Iran to sell oil on the global market as part of the MOU, a major concession that briefly offered the country an economic lifeline before it was revoked July 7.

— Zac Anderson, USA Today, 8 July 2026
However, Disney, the parent company of ABC, revoked the suspension and the show has remained on air since.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of revoke

Verb

The launch came after multiple weather delays, as well as a software issue that aborted a Thursday launch attempt and was fixed with an update.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
An unpiloted test flight in December 2019 failed to reach the space station, aborted its mission, and came home early.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026