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
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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
Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
The recent release of video from the incident led to ABC calling off Paul’s season of The Bachelorette right before it was set to premiere.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
In a statement, DHS told WJZ that nearly 500 TSA officers have quit during the shutdown, and thousands more are calling off work.
—Tara Lynch, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
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
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
Verb
In her interviews, Kardashian recalls her experience which included taking care of him after his overdose and even calling off their divorce proceedings amid his recovery.
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
The recent release of video from the incident led to ABC calling off Paul’s season of The Bachelorette right before it was set to premiere.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
In a statement, DHS told WJZ that nearly 500 TSA officers have quit during the shutdown, and thousands more are calling off work.
—Tara Lynch, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling off
Noun
-
In return, the lawsuit and a campaign led by the Lincoln Club to put a repeal of the trash fee before voters in November would be dropped.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
From demanding that women stay home and out of public life to advocating for the repeal of civil rights law - some conservative women have reached their limit.—
Brittany Luse,
NPR,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Thankfully, The Great American Baking Show has two devilishly distracting hosts at hand to make sure the participants are juggling as many plates as possible.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
-
Shooting in the real homes, clubs and neighborhoods that birthed these characters strips away distracting artifice, allowing the slowburn emotional stakes to take over.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The liquid foundation does a great job of hiding discoloration, evening out areas of hyperpigmentation, and canceling redness.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
28 May 2026
-
The company has already accomplished the first goal but is unlikely to meet the second, after cancelling the all-electric Lanzador (though the high-riding GT may see release as a plug-in hybrid).—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
José Palma, national coordinator of the National TPS Alliance — an advocacy group that has fought in federal courts against the cancellation of TPS for several countries—welcomed the extension of protections for the Lebanese.—
Gisela Salomon,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
Their effort prompted a 7 1/2-month strike that forced the cancellation of the World Series for the first time in 90 years.—
Ronald Blum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has also vowed to prevent LA28 from diverting money to a Legacy Fund before reimbursing Los Angeles for all expenses.—
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
The show’s studio, 20th Television Animation, kept the annual output relatively steady, diverting the surplus episodes to its streaming platforms.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Researchers are stripping grant applications of words that might attract federal scrutiny, or abandoning the topics entirely.—
Bruce Schneier,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026
-
For example, behavioral analytics may show that customers are abandoning a travel booking flow at unusually high rates.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Such a high abandonment rate has only happened once since the Dust Bowl era in 1933 -- in 2022 when drought conditions were at record highs, Riddey said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
But what felt like freedom to me felt like abandonment to the others.—
Kelly Martens-Crompvoets,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Your schedule, routines or work environment could feel especially chaotic today, with interruptions throwing off your modus operandi and usual sense of control.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
Otherwise, there was little evidence of factors that might be throwing off the results.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calling off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling%20off. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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