1
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
2
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
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Recent Examples of call off
However, a few months later, the couple broke up and called off the engagement.
—
Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
Jake Paul's fight against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis was called off after the latter once again found himself in legal trouble.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
As for why Turner didn’t call off the wedding beforehand despite having concerns?
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Except the goal was called off, the game went into a shootout and Lucas Raymond scored in the shootout period to win the game 4-3 for Detroit.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
Jake Paul's fight against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis was called off after the latter once again found himself in legal trouble.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
As for why Turner didn’t call off the wedding beforehand despite having concerns?
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Except the goal was called off, the game went into a shootout and Lucas Raymond scored in the shootout period to win the game 4-3 for Detroit.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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Moreover, 14% of more than 1,000 respondents said at least one accident had occurred at their workplace because an employee was distracted by a smartphone—often resulting in injury or damage to property.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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Critics said the milestones are too weak, and that Musk is distracted by side ventures.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While it's left some passengers making backup plans and reserving rental cars, the flights canceled Friday represented just a small portion of overall flights nationwide.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
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If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed due to the cuts, you’re legally entitled to a cash refund, not just some future credit.—
The Kim Komando Show,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Sacramento police diverted traffic from N Street between Fifth and Sixth streets downtown as the march proceeded, Gamble said.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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The district that would divert sales tax money to pay for the stadium would cover nearly all of Wyandotte County, and state and team officials are looking to redirect local sales tax revenue in addition to state taxes to pay back stadium debt.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Miami Hurricanes are at home, while the entire state of Indiana – save for some in West Lafayette – is content to abandon their homes to enjoy this unexpectedly stupefying playoff march.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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Season One concludes with the Texas Tech geology graduate abandoning a well crew after tragedy strikes, only to achieve rapid success in his personal and work endeavors.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Stiff ankles can throw off your entire body’s mechanics.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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When the deputy was struck, he was thrown off the overpass and landed below on Harry Hines Boulevard.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The proposal comes on the heels of a sweeping provision slipped in late last legislative session that required colleges to scrap programs that fell below a certain enrollment quota.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
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As more ocean carriers appear to show an openness to returning to the Red Sea on a limited basis, Maersk reportedly scrapped a long-time fee last month for one of its container vessels that transited the Suez Canal.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While multiple sources familiar with the holiday events deny online rumors that Mar-a-Lago threatened to revoke the memberships of guests who took photos of Barron over the holidays, insiders tell PEOPLE that there's an unspoken rule about how to treat the most private member of the first family.—
Linda Marx,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Colbert was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Orleans Parish in May, after a judge revoked her probation in a similar but unrelated case.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Her behavior led to the pilots aborting takeoff.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
2 Jan. 2026
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The Dating Game, directed by Violet Du Feng, shows us the struggle of young men to find spouses in a country where males outnumber females by a large margin (a result of China’s one-child policy, which saw many female offspring aborted or abandoned in favor of male children).—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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