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 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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of called off
The search for Naim was called off in the meantime, as an investigation is ongoing.
—
Jack Springgate, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
The search for Naim has been called off.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 8 Jan. 2026
After more than three weeks without finding the bear responsible for the attack, officials called off the search.
—Emily Wanderer, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Horse races and soccer matches have been called off because of snow and frost, a power failure caused by ice closed Glasgow’s subway, and Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport was closed for a time on Monday.
—Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The track in Arcadia had also called off racing Saturday.
—Kevin Modesti, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
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
Right before the wedding, however, Megan called off the engagement due to their lifestyles and priorities being too different.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Following that incident, Dunne called off the relationship.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Jack Springgate, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
The search for Naim has been called off.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 8 Jan. 2026
After more than three weeks without finding the bear responsible for the attack, officials called off the search.
—Emily Wanderer, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Horse races and soccer matches have been called off because of snow and frost, a power failure caused by ice closed Glasgow’s subway, and Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport was closed for a time on Monday.
—Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The track in Arcadia had also called off racing Saturday.
—Kevin Modesti, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
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
Right before the wedding, however, Megan called off the engagement due to their lifestyles and priorities being too different.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Following that incident, Dunne called off the relationship.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for called off
Verb
-
This is a president who is distracted by things that don't matter to the American people at a moment where the American people are in crisis.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Even the most emotionally invested of us can get distracted.—
Stuart Berman,
Pitchfork,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Festivals canceled The Durag Fest isn’t alone in taking a break this year.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
-
At the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), $588 million in drug research grants were cancelled and 1,200 related personnel laid off.—
Charles LeBaron,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Hope Florida then diverted the money to political committees that spent most of it supporting the governor’s campaign against the recreational marijuana initiative that narrowly failed in 2024.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Throughout the history of gold panning, workers had never been abandoned in remote or forgotten areas of the jungle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The buildings were abandoned as the public school system grew more welcoming of Black students, and many of the sites have been lost, historians say.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
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The Blue Bag program went ahead despite being savaged by critics for years throughout its planning stages, and was not considered a success when it was scrapped more than a dozen years later for the city's current blue cart program.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In court, an assistant state attorney said McCoy never should have been driving, telling the judge that his license was revoked as a habitual traffic offender.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
According to state law, permits are immediately revoked if a restaurant receives a score of less than 70%.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
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The leader of an international pro-life organization lauded the Nativity scene set up by the Vatican that highlighted the more than 25,000 babies who were not aborted this year thanks to the group's outreach initiatives.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The European countries that repealed their wealth taxes did so for varied reasons.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In 2020, voters repealed the Gallagher Amendment in the state constitution, which locked in a certain ratio of residential to commercial property taxes that provided extra security for homeowners against sudden increases.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Called off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/called%20off. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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