1
as in wrong
falling short of a standard
the milk tasted off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the computer is off, so you'll have to turn it on in order to use it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in erroneous
not being in agreement with what is true
that claim that everyone is actually related to everyone else seems a bit off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in small
small in degree
on the off chance that you do get straight A's, you can skip a grade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in spicy
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent
a telltale smirk suggested that there was something off about his parting shot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to assassinate
to put to death deliberately
the hit man was rumored to have offed at least three people in the last year alone
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 off
Bill Thomas, Outdoor Life, 24 Apr. 2025
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is your budget-friendly smartwatch and coach at 20% off, bringing wellness and effortless style to your wrist.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025
Alcaraz, who lives his best life at Indian Wells, playing golf on his off days and pummeling his opponent, chalked up the slow start and the loss to having fallen into the trap of thinking too much about his opponent rather than focusing on himself.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
Charlie Mason, TVLine, 23 Nov. 2024
Hal wants to live a quiet life, but he’s drawn back into chaos when the monkey reappears, offing poor Aunt Ida (Sarah Levy) in a series of accidents that really feel like overkill.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off
Adverb
The footfalls were about 200 yards off, and the deer was headed straight for me.
—Bill Thomas, Outdoor Life, 24 Apr. 2025
The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is your budget-friendly smartwatch and coach at 20% off, bringing wellness and effortless style to your wrist.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Stewart’s on-field production left a lot to be desired last year, but his motor doesn’t have an off switch.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025
Alcaraz, who lives his best life at Indian Wells, playing golf on his off days and pummeling his opponent, chalked up the slow start and the loss to having fallen into the trap of thinking too much about his opponent rather than focusing on himself.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
Yes, the schemer conspired with girlfriend Sarah Atwood to have his father offed, but John was also plotting with daughter Beth to have Jamie killed.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 23 Nov. 2024
Hal wants to live a quiet life, but he’s drawn back into chaos when the monkey reappears, offing poor Aunt Ida (Sarah Levy) in a series of accidents that really feel like overkill.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off
Adverb
-
Most of its details are still hidden away in a secret Koenigsegg vault while awaiting patent protection.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Indeed, the guy who was once the quietest in NKOTB interviews, now cheerfully chats away during media appearances.—
Leena Tailor,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But even one in three Republicans said their cost of living was on the wrong track, according to the poll, which surveyed 4,306 U.S. adults nationwide between April 16 and April 21.—
Jason Lange,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Many security breaches occur not because of faulty authorization code, but because the wrong people have been granted access due to human errors and poor visibility.—
Arie Abramovici,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Like the virus that causes chicken pox (varicella-zoster), HPV can lie dormant in the body for decades.—
Liz Szabo,
Scientific American,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Technology teams were left stranded, waiting months for essential components or scrambling to find alternatives from dormant inventories to maintain continuity.—
Archaana Pattabhii,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Smartmatic was frequently mentioned when Trump’s lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell appeared as guests on Fox News and Fox Business Network programs in late 2020 and spread Trump’s erroneous charges that voting machines were rigged to throw the election to Joe Biden.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Hampered by this erroneous guidance, health authorities and the American public began to believe that women were physically incapable of producing enough breastmilk.—
Made by History,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Although set in the small city, the movie was reportedly filmed in several locations in Louisiana.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
India also unleashed several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending its participation in a water-sharing treaty that is critical for its smaller neighbor.—
Anupreeta Das,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
The admirable Kentucky Freedom Run Farm provides the fine, flavorful lamb for a slow braising and sided with a spicy tomato jam risotto, coriander, mint-and-pistachio gremolata and the reduction of the meat’s juices.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
-
His agenda for a perfect day in L.A. includes a boat party, an ice bath and the most glorious spicy shrimp in town.—
Michelle Woo,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Routh has since pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and four firearm offenses.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Apr. 2025
-
The health secretary — who was 14 years old when his father was assassinated — has shown an interest in the case for years, doubting the conclusion that Sirhan was responsible for his father's killing.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
But Trump's net approval on his handling of the economy was -12 percentage points, according to the latest Economist/YouGov poll, down from -7 the week prior and +12 at the beginning of the term.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Minnesota was down by 15 points when Edwards took a pass from Julius Randle, gathered himself and attacked the basket.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share