1
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
2
as in cancelled
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 called off
The stars had called off their engagement in September 2013 after postponing their wedding the April prior.
—
Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
The football team’s game last week against George Washington was called off and will not be made up.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
Back in 2023, Aerosmith called off their Peace Out … Farewell Tour after three shows because Tyler fractured his larynx onstage.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
After the wedding was called off, Belly flew to Paris to start a new chapter in her life without the Fisher brothers.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Police called off their pursuit of Cook over safety concerns, but found his vehicle abandoned in a neighborhood less than a mile away.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
Baymax would try to join in when horses took off running but was always respectful and could be called off.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Then in June, the project was called off.
—David Gelles, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
The Washington Post first reported that the military academy called off this month’s event, saying the cancellation would allow West Point to instead focus on preparing enrollees for their future service.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
The football team’s game last week against George Washington was called off and will not be made up.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
Back in 2023, Aerosmith called off their Peace Out … Farewell Tour after three shows because Tyler fractured his larynx onstage.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
After the wedding was called off, Belly flew to Paris to start a new chapter in her life without the Fisher brothers.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Police called off their pursuit of Cook over safety concerns, but found his vehicle abandoned in a neighborhood less than a mile away.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
Baymax would try to join in when horses took off running but was always respectful and could be called off.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Then in June, the project was called off.
—David Gelles, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
The Washington Post first reported that the military academy called off this month’s event, saying the cancellation would allow West Point to instead focus on preparing enrollees for their future service.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for called off
Verb
-
Don’t get distracted by your phone, but stay alert for what’s ahead.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
-
More than one-third of US workers (36%) identify as a Swiftie—and are likely to be distracted when Taylor Swift releases her 12th studio album, according to new data.—
Kristen Parisi,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The munition can also be diverted mid-flight if battlefield conditions change — a feature that commanders say minimizes collateral damage and protects soldiers.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
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All traffic on that section of I-35E was being diverted to Oak Lawn Avenue.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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So the cash was gone, the credit and debit cards cancelled, and no one had ever cared about the pens or the Polaroid of Andrés.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Cal Poly canceled the final three games of the 1960.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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During a heavy storm, a Reddit user from Mumbai, India, found a cat abandoned outside a shop with her kittens—and the same cat is now the head of their household.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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That theory was strengthened when a grainy surveillance video seemed to capture the family of four crossing the border on the same day their car was abandoned.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While current power brokers haven’t scrapped movies over their content, yet, Hollywood has a recent history of companies obeying in advance by shelving projects until the tensions cool.—
Chris Yogerst,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
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There were additional plans to film a retrospective episode, but that was also scrapped.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His Tennessee driver’s license has also been revoked.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
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In April, more than 4,700 international students across the country had their immigration status revoked before it was unexpectedly restored weeks later.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Called off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/called%20off. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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