CALLING OFF Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

calling off 1 of 2

noun

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

calling off

2 of 2

verb

present participle of call off

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of calling off

Verb

For the United States, that means encouraging reform, including human rights protections, and calling off the bargain that has allowed autocratic allies to get away with grievous repression. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Citing unnamed sources, the Post reported that the shortfall of key weapons contributed to Trump calling off major strikes on Iran and making another push for diplomacy. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 7 Aug. 2026 After previously calling off an engagement, BelléJolie Force is a singer who is searching for her Prince Charming. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 The officers pursued the vehicle, a Volkswagen Jetta, for roughly a minute before calling off the chase because of the suspect’s speed and erratic driving, police said. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 7 July 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling off

Noun

Notably, the lawsuit also asks that the repeal be declared unlawful.

— Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Is she entitled to additional spousal benefits because of the repeal of GPO?

— Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of repeal

Verb

On Sunday, a severe thunderstorm swept through the Kansas City area, leaving thousands of residents without power, ripping the roof off of one building, and canceling a portion of the annual SantaCaliGon Days festival in Independence.

— Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026
The Flagship Suites come with amenity kits, bedding pajamas, noise-canceling headphones, a wireless charging pad and privacy doors.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of canceling

Noun

Labor Day Headphones Deals Apple’s AirPods Max 2 deliver an exceptional combination of high-fidelity acoustics and pro-grade active noise cancellation.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
But that bear case has yet to play out in any meaningful way, with Boeing reporting zero cancellations in August.

— Jeff Marks,Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of cancellation

Verb

But arrest affidavits accuse the parents of diverting authorities away from the South Carolina waterways during the search.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
The grand jury said a criminal case would be difficult to prove because prominent witnesses did not name who was responsible for diverting the money.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of diverting

Verb

Offering a plea deal or abandoning the prosecution The more unlikely options include the prosecution offering a plea deal to Clancy or dropping the case entirely.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026
The allegations said Bartiromo had allowed false claims about the 2020 presidential election to air on the network as part of a bid to keep angry viewers from abandoning its program.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of abandoning

Noun

With the storyline of a friend moving away, the film touches on the fear of abandonment that many in the Philippines experience when a family member or friend moves away to build a better life for themselves overseas.

— Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Set against the backdrop of political dishonesty and the country’s abandonment of ideals, the book probes questions about how to be an artist in the world.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of abandonment

Verb

Jefferson got the ball to Hale for a touchdown, rolling left and throwing off his back foot to find Jefferson in the back of the end zone.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
And climate shifts are yet another threat to milkweed’s viability in particular locales, throwing off the distances and timing that are so crucial to each butterfly’s travels.

— Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026