as in to dump
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
once she became rich and didn't need them anymore, she cast off all her old friends like so much junk
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as in discarded
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Recent Examples of cast (off)
Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Mar. 2026
The 49ers, under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, have not shied away from bringing back castoffs.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Ira, so with a trade the team will be Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jovic and a bunch of G Leaguers or castoffs.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
In the most roundabout way possible, an agency castoff had become the soul and voice of K-pop's greatest cultural phenomenon yet.
—Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 29 Jan. 2026
Women aren’t simply looking for grandma’s castoffs, though.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
The overarching idea, which brands like Adidas have played with to varying degrees of success, is that making everything out of a single material eliminates the need to strip castoff garments of fiddly buttons and zippers, a time-consuming and often expensive process.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Receiver Skyy Moore, a Kansas City Chiefs castoff, started in motion to his right and then came back left as quarterback Brock Purdy received a snap from under center.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
And in the latest transaction for one of the Yankees’ AL rivals, that has meant a new home for a recent castoff.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
Women in elegant African-print dresses carry burdens on their heads; men in cast-off Western clothes push wooden carts laden with potatoes and carrots.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Close to cast-off time, the tour company canceled the excursion.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Nov. 2025
And its current depth chart at the position is headed by Anthony Richardson and New York Giants cast-off Daniel Jones.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2025
Horák had similarly repurposed cast-off items to deliver a vegetarian course of cavatelli pasta.
—Christine Muhlke, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2025
There was blood cast-off on the walls in various places, including above Xana's body.
—Robert Birsel
hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
The object doesn’t display a large tail or enveloping coma of cast-off gas, only a hint of dust—but that is expected to change soon.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 16 July 2025
On the table in the middle of the room were silicone peels reminiscent of cast-off snakeskin.
—Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Noun
The Swedish textile recycler and the Finnish material innovator worked together to turn castoff clothing into new fibers back when Circulose was known as Renewcell and under its pre-bankruptcy management.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Mar. 2026
The 49ers, under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, have not shied away from bringing back castoffs.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Ira, so with a trade the team will be Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jovic and a bunch of G Leaguers or castoffs.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
In the most roundabout way possible, an agency castoff had become the soul and voice of K-pop's greatest cultural phenomenon yet.
—Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 29 Jan. 2026
Women aren’t simply looking for grandma’s castoffs, though.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
The overarching idea, which brands like Adidas have played with to varying degrees of success, is that making everything out of a single material eliminates the need to strip castoff garments of fiddly buttons and zippers, a time-consuming and often expensive process.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Receiver Skyy Moore, a Kansas City Chiefs castoff, started in motion to his right and then came back left as quarterback Brock Purdy received a snap from under center.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
And in the latest transaction for one of the Yankees’ AL rivals, that has meant a new home for a recent castoff.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The Patriots patched their defensive line with players like Cory Durden, a Giants cast-off who proved worthy of a starting spot at least for one night.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
Women in elegant African-print dresses carry burdens on their heads; men in cast-off Western clothes push wooden carts laden with potatoes and carrots.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Close to cast-off time, the tour company canceled the excursion.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Nov. 2025
And its current depth chart at the position is headed by Anthony Richardson and New York Giants cast-off Daniel Jones.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2025
Horák had similarly repurposed cast-off items to deliver a vegetarian course of cavatelli pasta.
—Christine Muhlke, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2025
There was blood cast-off on the walls in various places, including above Xana's body.
—Robert Birsel
hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
The object doesn’t display a large tail or enveloping coma of cast-off gas, only a hint of dust—but that is expected to change soon.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 16 July 2025
On the table in the middle of the room were silicone peels reminiscent of cast-off snakeskin.
—Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cast (off)
Verb
-
Polls show voters give him poor marks on the issue and are leaning toward dumping his Republican allies in the forthcoming midterm congressional elections.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The bike dumped onto its side, throwing both riders, state police said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Today, there are hundreds of rejects packed in wood cabinets and cardboard boxes.—
Steve Hartman,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
At first glance, the collection seemed to be a paean to rejects.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In another development, researchers in the US developed a new method that could turn discarded data center hardware into a reliable, eco-friendly source of rare earths and valuable metals.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The first-stage booster that had been tapped during the original attempts was discarded for a new booster.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Be sure to properly discard all smoking materials.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After spending a few hours soaking up the sun, sail to nearby Sandy Spit, a perfect white dune emerging from the sea that makes for a perfect castaway experience (and a perfect snap for Instagram).—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Adapted for television by Adolescence co-creator, Emmy winner Jack Thorne, in Lord of the Flies, innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes desert island castaways.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The lot was filled with junked cars, equipment and garbage, the report shows.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While at a brunch with Barbour in New York City, the media mogul ditched casual jeans for an elegant denim skirt.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Certainly not the men who’ve ditched their oxfords and brogues in favor of that most casual category of non-sneaker shoe, the loafer.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But his position as a social outcast qualifies him to enter this milieu as a spiritual equal.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) chapter in the former East German state of Saxony-Anhalt held its party congress over the weekend, ahead of state elections in September that could deliver the party – once a political outcast – its first absolute majority in its 13-year history.—
Sebastian Shukla,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cast (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cast%20%28off%29. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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