1
as in ending
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the majority party cut off debate and forced a vote on the bill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in separating
to set or keep apart from others
the dog cut off the one sheep that had to be sheared
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 cutting off
The Ewpjdk 4-Pack Garden Pruning Shears come with four pruning shears for the price of one and are versatile enough to take on all kinds of fall pruning tasks, like harvesting, clipping, deadheading, and cutting off the final fruits of the season, before winter comes.
—
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
The 11-year-old was suffering an asthma attack, which was cutting off his supply of oxygen.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2025
Advertisement Pushed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the project, which had been on hold for decades due to global concerns, would isolate the territory by cutting off the West Bank from East Jerusalem.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
And while disinformation earns ad revenue through viral reach, up to 70% of legitimate climate content is demonetized due to outdated keyword blocklists, cutting off funding to credible journalism while amplifying false narratives.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
For an open center pie shield, remove some of the center by cutting off some of the bottom part of the foil.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Jason declared, cutting off Travis.
—Rachel McRady, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The lawsuit argued that jail staff worsened Marroquin’s suicidal thoughts by cutting off contact with his mother — one of the few people who could calm him.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
The 11-year-old was suffering an asthma attack, which was cutting off his supply of oxygen.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2025
Advertisement Pushed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the project, which had been on hold for decades due to global concerns, would isolate the territory by cutting off the West Bank from East Jerusalem.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
And while disinformation earns ad revenue through viral reach, up to 70% of legitimate climate content is demonetized due to outdated keyword blocklists, cutting off funding to credible journalism while amplifying false narratives.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
For an open center pie shield, remove some of the center by cutting off some of the bottom part of the foil.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Jason declared, cutting off Travis.
—Rachel McRady, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The lawsuit argued that jail staff worsened Marroquin’s suicidal thoughts by cutting off contact with his mother — one of the few people who could calm him.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting off
Verb
-
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the state news agency TASS that Putin had extended an invitation to Trump following the leaders' meeting in Alaska on August 15, which provided no breakthrough on ending the war in Ukraine.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Despite making wholesale changes to his life and training heading into UFC 316, Dvalishvili easily dispatched O’Malley in their second meeting, ending the fight in the third round via submission.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Thurman, 55, filed for divorce from Hawke in 2004, after separating the year before.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Joy and grief, there’s no separating the two, period.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
For thinkers like Ratti, the time for stopping or slowing climate change has passed, and the time for climate adaptation is upon us.—
Kate Wagner,
Curbed,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The European Commission isn't stopping with financial penalties, though.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In a society that relies so heavily on categorizing people into a gender binary, targeting a young man’s masculinity can be a particularly painful and isolating experience.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Your support system may weaken, isolating you even further.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The group’s catalog maintains a never-ceasing presence on charts all around the world, and many of the rock classic hits included in the outfit’s discography still sell and stream in meaningful numbers every single week.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Burger Patch, a fully vegan burger fast-food chain, is ceasing operations on Monday after eight years in business across the Sacramento region, the company wrote on its website.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Rhode Island and Connecticut have said that halting construction of Revolution Wind would harm the states, their residents, investments and the offshore wind industry.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The lawsuit, filed in Cole County, marks the first legal challenge aimed at halting a special legislative session designed to carve up the Kansas City region and overhaul the state’s initiative petition process.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The phones were all on and were not shutting off.—
Yaakov Katz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Once in the body, CO molecules hijack your red blood cells, overpowering oxygen in the bloodstream and shutting off critical O2 supply to the brain, heart and other organs.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Johnson then carried the ball on the last four plays, breaking off carries of eight, nine and 10 yards.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
-
After breaking off her first engagement with Affleck in 2004, the singer went on to marry singer-songwriter Marc Anthony.—
Ariana Quihuiz,
People.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cutting off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting%20off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share