1
as in distracts
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cancels
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
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 calls off
The president calls off plans to send the National Guard to San Francisco.
—
Christian Orozco, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
Christian Orozco, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calls off
Verb
-
So, excited headlines about a blossoming romance between them certainly creates a narrative that distracts from all the negative news each has grappled with recently.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The constantly shifting allegiances are meant to form a twisty yarn in the aggregate, though the effect is largely just confusing — especially when Helen gets a subplot investigating her own past that distracts from her role as the chilly, withholding boss.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After her family cancels holiday plans at the last minute, Nell decides to spend the week of Christmas having fun on her own!—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Miami cancels school, orders state of emergency About 10 minutes to the west, the community of Miami was also recovering from intense flooding.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These tissues regenerate constantly, so when protein is scarce, your body diverts amino acids away from these aesthetic functions toward more critical ones, like maintaining organ health and immunity.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Time,
18 Dec. 2025
-
O’Neill directs the steamroller of tragedy right at the characters and then — atypically, delightfully — diverts it.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Edward cruelly abandons his wife to pursue a wealthy and high-status noblewoman (Bella Heathcote).—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Using three boundaries to solve the problem The new study abandons the idea of a purely passive shell.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But China has not made such statements, and there’s still a risk that the two strongmen can’t see eye to eye or a rogue comment throws off the delicate detente.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Perhaps an unexpected expense throws off your budget, or you’re no longer inspired by a recent investment.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But then Belly scraps her Parisian plans and pledges her young life to Jeremiah, a rising super senior at Finch majoring in getting high and going to Cabo (which, quite honestly, is more age-appropriate than a wedding).—
Vogue,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The budget law, which funds several of the president's priorities, including tax cuts to wealthy Americans and border security, revokes refugees' access to Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities, starting in October 2026.—
Renuka Rayasam,
ABC News,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Disbarment, which revokes a lawyer's license to practice law, is the most severe professional sanction for attorneys.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the event that an operator aborts an interception, the drone will fly back to base ready to be used again — a potential major cost-saver.—
Alex Holmes,
NBC news,
12 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Calls off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calls%20off. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share