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
-
Their romance distracts Berlin, who is usually focused and more emotionally detached.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
15 May 2026
-
Trump is renowned for his transanctionalism and willingness to deal with anybody if the dollar signs are there, but, when immigrants are involved, his interest in exclusion distracts him from the bottom line.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The three eventually work out their differences but not before Edgar turns Miles’s proto-smart-home devices against him, cancels his credit cards, and forges a criminal record for him.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
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Instead, teen boys are quietly swapping first dates, awkward silences, and emotional guesswork for an AI girlfriend who never cancels, never argues, and always texts back.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Using proprietary technology, such as its allocation engine, Debrand facilitates the management of unsellable inventory and returns—something the Canadian hub said diverts textile waste from landfills and promotes circularity in the fashion industry, as evidenced by the brand case studies.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Both charming decoration and functional solution, the rain chain diverts rainwater from the roof and gutters, transforming it into a beautiful water feature.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Everyone abandons him, except the doctors and their machines.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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When a security system declines a valid purchase, the customer often abandons the cart and moves to a competitor.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Blue Light Isn’t Actually the Main Problem The popular explanation — that blue light suppresses melatonin and throws off your circadian clock — is real but incomplete.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
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What’s meant to feel relaxed and inviting often throws off the proportions and limits how the space can actually function.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The current proposal before the board scraps 800 jobs, but community pushback has delayed the decision.—
Natalie La Roche Pietri,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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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
-
If the expansion detracts somehow from the SARA cult fever, the co-owners are OK with that.—
Senior Wine Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
15 June 2017
Verb
-
The Netherlands is the only EU country that automatically revokes the citizenship of its nationals in the event of gaining dual nationality with a non-EU country.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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Jamie requests an audience with the families and revokes their letters of banishment.—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calls off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calls%20off. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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