as in repeal
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to
the calling off of the senior prom is not going to go over well
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in distracting
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in canceling
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 calling off
Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Travelers are facing long lines, with unpaid Transportation Security Administration officers calling off work or quitting altogether.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Yet calling off the face-to-face visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping could have its own major economic consequences as relations between the world's two biggest economies remain fraught over tariffs and other issues.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
The news that Glass was calling off his appearance also caught off guard the National Symphony Orchestra.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The university cited budget cuts as the reason for calling off this year's dinner for the first time in its almost 60-year history, according to a letter posted by the Black Student Union.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 16 Jan. 2026
Coffman said that shows officers and their supervisors are judiciously calling off pursuits that become too dangerous.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Years after calling off their first engagement, Affleck and Lopez reconnected then married in 2022.
—Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
But lately, more buyers are calling off their deals to look for better ones.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
An increasing number of TSA officers have been calling off work, leading to staffing shortages inside airport security and lengthy screening lines at some airports.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Travelers are facing long lines, with unpaid Transportation Security Administration officers calling off work or quitting altogether.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Yet calling off the face-to-face visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping could have its own major economic consequences as relations between the world's two biggest economies remain fraught over tariffs and other issues.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
The news that Glass was calling off his appearance also caught off guard the National Symphony Orchestra.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The university cited budget cuts as the reason for calling off this year's dinner for the first time in its almost 60-year history, according to a letter posted by the Black Student Union.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 16 Jan. 2026
Coffman said that shows officers and their supervisors are judiciously calling off pursuits that become too dangerous.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Years after calling off their first engagement, Affleck and Lopez reconnected then married in 2022.
—Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
But lately, more buyers are calling off their deals to look for better ones.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling off
Noun
-
First bills signed Walz on Friday signed into law the first bills of the 2026 legislative session, including the repeal of Minnesota’s day honoring Latino labor icon and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Years later, Meridian Mayor Robert Simison was still urging a full repeal of the bill.—
Mark Dee
March 25,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Other than that, the differences in the format were small, distracting only because of how ingrained the cadences of the original are.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
-
During the costly possession when the Rebels let the shot clock expire with 41 seconds left, Thienou surprised her coach by passing up a shot while the crowd was roaring and clearly distracting the visitors.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Those groups all called for pausing or cancelling the project.—
Desiree Mathurin
March 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Trump’s administration recently pressured other nations into canceling a long-standing plan to charge ship owners a modest fee to pay for environmental damage.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The work-stoppage resulted in the cancellation of that fall’s World Series—a high-profile erasure the likes of which had happened only once before … in 1904.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Active noise cancellation helps keep the cabin quiet, while a six-speaker audio system provides solid sound for the daily commute.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Nordseth also argued the city is illegally diverting money collected through a 2% increase in hotel occupancy taxes, approved by voters in 2022.—
Everton Bailey Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Gut Digestion slows at altitude due to a lack of oxygen in the intestines and the body diverting blood to more critical organs and the muscles that are being used to climb.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For now, Iran has shown no signs of abandoning its proxy in Lebanon amid the larger war.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Since then, the larger culture has lurched rightward, with big corporations abandoning progressive signaling in favor of…other priorities.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Perez is now being charged with animal cruelty and animal abandonment.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
In lieu of confronting her mother about the reason for her abandonment, Taparjan works with actors.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Staff say the theft forced them to reshuffle routes, delay pickups and scramble to notify parents – throwing off entire school days.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Musgrove will have to progress to throwing off a mound to bullpens to live batting practice to likely minor league rehab games before the Padres can think about activating him.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calling off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling%20off. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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