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
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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
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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
-
Border security is not the mission of the GLO, and using this office for that purpose distracts from its core responsibilities, managing public land, supporting public education, assisting veterans, and overseeing disaster recovery.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Suicide is tragic, and prevention is essential — but not through research that distracts from the real risks facing NFL players and young athletes.—
Eleanor M. Perfetto,
STAT,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Advertisement When Eun-jae disappears before the transplant, Seong-sin sends his men to kill her, but cancels the order at the last second.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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Continue reading … PULLING THE PLUG – Amazon cancels 'Melania' movie screening at cinema after sign backfires.—
,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Spending millions on ineligible recipients only diverts resources from those most in need.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, the funds are being used to produce a narrative that diverts attention from a major public health issue and discourages the press from covering it.—
Eleanor M. Perfetto,
STAT,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
O’Hara found her highest-profile role in Home Alone (1990), as a harried suburban mom who accidentally abandons her 8-year-old son.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The second abandons the intellectual framework that apparently motivated Warsh’s interest in the position.—
Daniel J. Arbess,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lifting the Lid While Cooking Releasing the steam interrupts the cooking process and throws off timing.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The spin is being closely watched as a statement on the future of cable, which throws off significant cash but has been in rapid decline as viewers migrate to streaming.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
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
-
Among other things, the legislation adds work requirements for able-bodied adults starting in January 2027, revokes Medicaid access to some immigrants, including refugees and people seeking asylum, and checks whether someone is eligible for the program every six months instead of every year.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Trump revokes Canada’s spot on ‘Board of Peace’ 2.—
,
FOXNews.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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 16 Feb. 2026.
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