as in canceling
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
their film deal had been abruptly cried off, and now the filmmakers were back to square one
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Recent Examples of crying off
People were crying off-camera a lot.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crying off
Verb
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Helping this vulnerable population should garner the same degree of enthusiasm so many on Capitol Hill exerted for canceling student loan debt.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Here’s the latest news, and what to consider before canceling a trip.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Many reactions accused the modern-era dolls of abandoning the American Girl Doll mission of teaching history to young girls.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Still, his comments were enough to get Hilton to claim Bianco was abandoning GOP principles.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps they were stuck scrapping for parts, or rushed, or working under the dark cloud of the backlash to Barrera’s firing.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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The Writers Guild Staff Union (WGSU), which has been picketing in front of the union’s headquarters for a week, alleged on Tuesday night that management for the writers’ union raised the possibility of scrapping the 2026 Writers Guild Awards in a recent call about contract negotiations.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The agency also said that teachers who facilitate walkouts will be subject to investigation and possible sanctions that could include revoking their licenses.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Feb. 2026
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Davies said the 2007 date Wexner cited in 2019 applied to firing Epstein as financial adviser, revoking his power of attorney and removing his name from Wexner’s bank accounts.—
Julie Carr Smyth,
Fortune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Her behavior led to the pilots aborting takeoff.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
2 Jan. 2026
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An investigation by the Spanish outlet La Marea uncovered contracts that restricted women’s movements during pregnancy, including clauses prohibiting travel abroad or aborting the fetus.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The measure appears likely to appear on the ballot because the sponsors, the Lincoln Club Business League, plan to rely on the much lower threshold required under state law for measures repealing taxes and fees.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
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Other recommendations included repealing any crime-free nuisance ordinances around housing, establishing an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Rights and creating a program that diverts young people away from the justice system.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The news that Glass was calling off his appearance also caught off guard the National Symphony Orchestra.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The university cited budget cuts as the reason for calling off this year's dinner for the first time in its almost 60-year history, according to a letter posted by the Black Student Union.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crying off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crying%20off. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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