1
as in exploded
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
specialists were able to deactivate the bomb before it went off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proceeded
to move forward along a course
the wedding went off without so much as a single glitch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in moved
to leave a place often for another
don't go off without telling us where we can find you
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gone off
Ten minutes later, Martinelli actually scored after making a good run in behind from the right wing as Saka had gone off injured.
—
Art De Roché, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
But then Lacey was back with the kids, banging around in the kitchen, and the first of the evening’s friends and acquaintances began to show up and the blessedness passed, as had the roadrunner, hyperactive and vigilant and always on the make, gone off to seek somebody else’s snakes.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
Ellen could have gone off riding and some of those cattle thieves that Dougal chased off could have come upon her.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Skattebo was turning heads early on in training camp for the Giants, but things have gone off the rails a bit for him.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
Art De Roché, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
But then Lacey was back with the kids, banging around in the kitchen, and the first of the evening’s friends and acquaintances began to show up and the blessedness passed, as had the roadrunner, hyperactive and vigilant and always on the make, gone off to seek somebody else’s snakes.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
Ellen could have gone off riding and some of those cattle thieves that Dougal chased off could have come upon her.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Skattebo was turning heads early on in training camp for the Giants, but things have gone off the rails a bit for him.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gone off
Verb
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As the offense exploded, the team’s defense remained stingy.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Flashing lights and colors exploded across my view.—
Michelle Maves,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Starting in the 1880s, the city and county each built a series of increasingly spacious jails—and then proceeded to fill them well above capacity each winter.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
21 Oct. 2025
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Trump then proceeded to bully both Hamas and Netanyahu into accepting this agreement.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Until Riley Moss drew the pass-interference call of all pass-interference calls, a flag that moved New York from the 40-yard line to the 1.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
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To measure the centre of gravity of the submarine, 16 tonnes of lead weights are brought on board and moved side-to-side.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sloppy passes, stagnant offense, blown defensive assignments, poor decisions.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
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Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Getting a deal done would arguably be even more difficult for Buffalo given that the Bills and Dolphins play in the same division (AFC East) and square off twice every regular season.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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True North maintained Atlanta’s records upon purchasing the Thrashers in 2011 — just as the Coyotes had done when the original Jets franchise moved to Phoenix.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The protests come amid a federal government shutdown now in its 18th day, broader immigration enforcement operations, and the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago and Los Angeles.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
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Regulators say more crashes may come Tesla's latest FSD software update arrived just days before the investigation began.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The criminal operations have gone largely unchallenged in Cambodia due to the complete dismantling in recent years of the country’s civil society and independent media.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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Ole Miss will again be leaning on Division II transfer quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who’s gone from leading Ferris State to a national title to trying to lead the Rebels to the Playoff.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Shadene Butchart, 58, started off on a Blue Cross bronze plan -- or the lowest tier -- but, as her disease progressed, the couple decided to upgrade to a gold plan, the highest tier, which covers a higher percentage of her health care costs.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
21 Oct. 2025
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The friendship has progressed, and my sister feels jealous and threatened by it.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gone off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gone%20off. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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