CALLED OFF Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

called off

verb

past tense of call off

as in distracted

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 canceled

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 called off Seasonal flu vaccinations have been called off this year after the government failed to procure them from Europe. — Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026 Efforts to locate McCrystal included aerial and ground searches, which were called off earlier this month after a two-week search yielded no trace. — Sarah Jean Maher, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were called off this year due to the Iran war. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 Realizing his body could no longer execute, Brees allegedly called off the comeback. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026 The two sides later launched trade talks and called off some of their most stringent measures, but tensions have remained high. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 The Tempe Fire Department called off the search for a missing body after sending dive crews to Tempe Town Lake in response to reports of a person going underwater near the Rural Road Bridge. — David Ulloa Jr, AZCentral.com, 7 Sep. 2026 The rescue effort had already been called off in August because of Link’s own troubles in orbit, but the company wanted the practice for future satellite-servicing missions. — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The companies ultimately called off the deal in 2023 due to regulatory hurdles. — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for called off

Verb

My parents were tense and distracted while my siblings were scared.

— Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
Even Love Story’s Kelly got distracted by his own reflection, pausing in front of one mirror to zhuzh his curls before moving on to the next dazzling display.

— Simone Cook, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of distracted

Verb

The stage musical based on one of the biggest movies ever made in Connecticut finally makes it here on a national tour and an earlier tour was canceled.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
In August, Bonnaroo, the beloved Tennessee festival, was canceled to take a break and fortify the grounds after back to back years of heavy storms.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of canceled

Verb

In one case this summer, water from a natural spring to the Palestinian village of Fasayil was illegally diverted to an ancient pool nearby.

— Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Separately, the Pentagon is investigating how sensitive F-35 components — including a cockpit canopy with radar-absorbent coating — were diverted from an Australian repair hub to Hong Kong, where Chinese authorities are reportedly now holding them.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of diverted

Verb

The restaurant idea was abandoned and, instead, an extremely small table was located on the floor below the main lobby.

— Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
But jurors heard testimony from family members convincing them that there was no way Cavett would have abandoned her son, Kamdyn.

— Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of abandoned

Verb

Earlier this month, Santa Monica’s inaugural Ocean Way Festival was scrapped amid dangerous high surf and flooding caused by Hurricane Marie across Southern California.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
Among them, Ed Sheeran scrapped stops at Gillette Stadium including shows set for Friday and Saturday night in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of scrapped

Verb

Or the pilots could have just aborted the landing at that point and circled to try again.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
The production of some vaccines involves growing viruses in human cell cultures from two fetuses aborted in the 1960s, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

— Finch Walker, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of aborted

Verb

For a home or business that uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month, that could mean power bills roughly $8 a month lower with these changes than if current rules weren’t repealed.

— Akshaya Jha, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
In 2005, lawmakers repealed annual gas tax increases tied to inflation.

— Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026