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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

As his son Charles recounts in Swan Song, when Diana considered calling off her wedding to Prince Charles after suffering various snubs from the heir to the throne, Count Spencer flatly rejected his youngest daughter’s idea. — Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026 Incredibly, SpaceX seemed unsure as to whether to push ahead to orbit, calling off that part of the test for a brief moment before deciding to go for orbit minutes later. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2026 The Central Park Conservancy, which operates the park, agreed calling off the concert was the right move. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026 There was no indication Wednesday that F1 is any closer to calling off or moving the Qatar or Abu Dhabi races. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling off

Noun

Several Florida residents traveled to the meeting to voice their support for Ladapo and the vaccine repeal, thanking him for standing up for parents’ rights and even asking him for a selfie.

— Ana Goñi-Lessan, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
States and cities have already sued over the repeal of the power plant rule.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of repeal

Verb

Maybe his conning can be curtailed someday, but the thought there’d ever be enough distracting chaos for a similarly lengthy follow-up is almost too much to bear.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
The text was crisp and easy to read, the matte display minimized distracting reflections, and the ink paper mode made reading comfortable.

— Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of distracting

Verb

What transpired in-between the curtain raiser and final pose was much like what had gone down the previous night in Cincinnati, at the first public gig the Beach Boys had done since canceling a slew of dates beginning in July.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
In an interview with Tulsa news station Fox23, Meulenberg also emphasized that the department did not recommend canceling the concert.

— Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of canceling

Noun

Read More The AirPods Pro 3 have a new design that improves their fit, superior noise cancellation, better bass, and fairly accurate heart rate sensors.

— Brad Bourque, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026
In our review, PCMag audio expert Tim Gideon lauded these headphones' above-average noise cancellation at their regular price.

— Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of cancellation

Verb

Even more alarming, in another case, Nvidia didn’t notice that a small data center in Thailand diverting chips was relying on fake leases to purchase bulk orders.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
All seemed right in the world until 2008, when Cook discovered that McCauley had been diverting funds for years, forging bank statements and checks and making large withdrawals.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of diverting

Verb

And in Steinbeck’s original telling, Cathy — the most beloved patricidal, baby-abandoning prostitute in literature — is simply born that way.

— Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
That approach could help the Army strengthen its missile defenses without abandoning the technology and infrastructure already supporting its air defense operations.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of abandoning

Noun

Goldfish centers on a 17-year-old high school senior who presents as detached, ironic and emotionally armored, but underneath is quietly paralyzed by fear of failure, abandonment and becoming his parents.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
The person found responsible could face charges of abandonment and neglect.

— Julia Avant, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of abandonment

Verb

Simmons caught an unexpected snap and got the ball to his receiver while fading back and throwing off of his back foot.

— PJ Green October 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026
Cousins was in rhythm but, throwing off his back foot, didn’t give the throw nearly enough juice.

— Sam Warren, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026