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
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
After divorcing his fourth wife, Jerry Hall, in August 2022, the media tycoon announced his engagement to Ann Lesley Smith on March 20, 2023 (the pair called off their engagement just a few weeks later).
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 9 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
The 2010 operation was supposed to last three days but got called off after the first hour yielded dozens of arrests and unleashed a furious reaction from then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.
—Elliot Spagat, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Over the past half-decade, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has been called off three times, leaving behind unrealized lineups, swampy farmlands, and heartbroken fans.
—Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
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
After divorcing his fourth wife, Jerry Hall, in August 2022, the media tycoon announced his engagement to Ann Lesley Smith on March 20, 2023 (the pair called off their engagement just a few weeks later).
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 9 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
The 2010 operation was supposed to last three days but got called off after the first hour yielded dozens of arrests and unleashed a furious reaction from then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.
—Elliot Spagat, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Over the past half-decade, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has been called off three times, leaving behind unrealized lineups, swampy farmlands, and heartbroken fans.
—Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for called off
Verb
-
The walk to the penalty spot didn’t feel long for Bronze, partly because she was distracted by the strapping.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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First published in 1985, the book warned that the threat to American democracy came not from state repression, but from a culture distracted by amusement.—
Time,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the second case, the IMF is carried outwards by the solar wind and bumps into the magnetic field of the earth as the solar wind is diverted around it.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Arrivals from cities including Gran Canaria, Tokyo, and Paris were diverted to alternate airports across Poland and Europe.—
Amanda Castro
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On Sunday night, the cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert won the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
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That proposal was canceled after bipartisan opposition in the Senate.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tropicana abandoned the glass of orange juice just six weeks after rolling it out and brought back the old orange-with-a-straw.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The revision of Merriam’s unabridged masterpiece was abandoned.—
Stefan Fatsis,
The Atlantic,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The old-timey chain had recently scrapped major parts of its turnaround plan after right-wing backlash.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
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The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) was supposed to go to a House floor vote this week, but that plan was scrapped when the bill’s sponsors reportedly sensed a majority would vote nay.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In March, Gabbard revoked security clearances for former Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and former national security adviser Jake Sullivan, along with other Biden administration officials.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Sep. 2025
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He’s been convicted of speeding nine times, driving after his license was revoked twice and once each for careless driving and failing to drive with due care.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Called off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/called%20off. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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