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
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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
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Recent Examples of cutting off
During major shutdowns, authorities often keep parts of the domestic internet running, allowing access to local banking and government services while cutting off communication with the outside world.
—
Tim Lister, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
The war has closed the Strait of Hormuz, effectively cutting off one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
The war has inflicted damage on the UAE’s energy infrastructure and blocked oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off a critical stream of dollar income.
—Maria Paula Mijares Torres, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
If this is the case, then cutting off the water supply to this waterfall — to fill a dam or for irrigation, which happens — could harm the fish.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 5 Apr. 2026
Retail connections faded as foot traffic disappeared, cutting off communication with buyers.
—J.m. Banks
march 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The United Arab Emirates is considering cutting off Iranian access to billions of dollars held in the Gulf state, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
And people very quickly begin to think about cutting off electricity, cutting off water, damage to their cities.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Timing Tips For Trimming And Pruning Spring-flowering trees and shrubs should be pruned immediately after blooming to encourage more blooms for reblooming plants or to avoid cutting off buds that have set for next year’s blooms.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
Tim Lister, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
The war has closed the Strait of Hormuz, effectively cutting off one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
The war has inflicted damage on the UAE’s energy infrastructure and blocked oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off a critical stream of dollar income.
—Maria Paula Mijares Torres, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
If this is the case, then cutting off the water supply to this waterfall — to fill a dam or for irrigation, which happens — could harm the fish.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 5 Apr. 2026
Retail connections faded as foot traffic disappeared, cutting off communication with buyers.
—J.m. Banks
march 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The United Arab Emirates is considering cutting off Iranian access to billions of dollars held in the Gulf state, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
And people very quickly begin to think about cutting off electricity, cutting off water, damage to their cities.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Timing Tips For Trimming And Pruning Spring-flowering trees and shrubs should be pruned immediately after blooming to encourage more blooms for reblooming plants or to avoid cutting off buds that have set for next year’s blooms.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting off
Verb
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In all, the 39 Broadway productions (one fewer than the previous week due to Book of Mormon) grossed $38,297,488 for the week ending May 10, a drop of 3% from the previous week and down about 11% from last year at this time.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
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The Lakers plan to hire two assistant general managers, Rob Pelinka, the team’s president of basketball operations and general manager, said in a season-ending news conference Tuesday after the Lakers were swept out of the Western Conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Next, Butac arranges a bunch of the beans on two trays and roasts them for a specific amount of time before separating the shells from the beans and then running the bean fragments, also known as nibs, through a mill.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
10 May 2026
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Still, robotics has a long history of inflated expectations, making many executives cautious about separating breakthrough potential from hype.—
Dr. Jonathan Reichental,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Higher gas prices and airfare aren't stopping 45 million Americans from traveling for Memorial Day weekend in 2026, according to AAA's new forecast.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
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There’s been no stopping Garcia in his last two starts.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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In past outbreaks of the Andes virus, taking steps such as isolating people who are sick — and asking those who aren’t sick but have been exposed to stay away from others — have brought outbreaks to an end.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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Plenty of teams have found joy by isolating Chelsea’s defenders with a long ball over the top and City are not above doing so.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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In the wake of Spirit Airlines suddenly ceasing operations on May 2, another airline is offering new direct flights – with three new routes coming to Pittsburgh International Airport.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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The album consists of 10 tracks where the challenge has been to evolve without ceasing to be myself.—
Sarah Moreno
May 7,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Verb
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However, by the time Gordon completed the zoning process to transform the farmhouse, the 2008 financial crisis hit, halting her plans.—
William Deffaa,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
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Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating electrons to stabilize reactive molecules without becoming harmful themselves, thereby halting oxidative damage and protecting cells and tissues.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Don’t try to handle a squatter yourself by changing locks, hauling out belongings or shutting off utilities — Texas law treats that as a self-help eviction and can backfire if the person turns out to have tenant rights, making court eviction the required route in landlord-tenant cases.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 May 2026
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Over a dozen people were arrested on suspicion of helping the escapees, including another inmate in the jail and a jail maintenance worker who is accused of shutting off water to the toilet, allowing escapees to remove it.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Honduras established diplomatic ties with China in 2023 after breaking off relations with Taiwan.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
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Filed by First Nations groups in Alberta, the lawsuit argues that the province breaking off from Canada would violate treaty rights.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cutting off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting%20off. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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