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
Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
And the Nuggets, in spite of themselves, might be better off.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
The hours and minutes are shown on an off-centre subdial at 12 o’clock, while the running seconds sit at 4 o’clock and the chrono’s minute counter at 7 o’clock.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Dec. 2025
The equivalent of a soccer ball is enough to off a seal or dolphin.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off
Adverb
The plot wasn’t far off, as so many once bustling towns — like the fictional Radiator Springs — nearly faded away after being bypassed by an interstate.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
And the Nuggets, in spite of themselves, might be better off.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
On their off-day workout at Rogers Centre before Game 6 of last year’s World Series, Roberts challenged Hyeseong Kim (the fastest player on the Dodgers) to a race from first to third base.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
The hours and minutes are shown on an off-centre subdial at 12 o’clock, while the running seconds sit at 4 o’clock and the chrono’s minute counter at 7 o’clock.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Powell stars as a man offing his obscenely wealthy family to resecure an inheritance.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Dec. 2025
The equivalent of a soccer ball is enough to off a seal or dolphin.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off
Adverb
-
But others on the board are less sure of their stance, and a final decision is likely still a ways away.—
Mary Ramsey
April 6,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
-
So many people wanted to participate before the 2025-26 season that the coaching staff had to turn them away.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sometimes that’s totally wrong, because people are overestimating their kids or underestimating Joan Mitchell or whomever.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Or show off the Sombor Shuffle with an 11-footer off the wrong foot.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Adding defensive end Rashan Gary will help bolster a pass rush that was dormant for stretches at a time last season, and bringing in safety Jalen Thompson will give some reliability on the back end that Dallas desperately needed after giving up the most passing yards of any team in the NFL in 2025.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
-
While homeowners fear their brown lawns mean dead grass, Cline and others say lawns that look brown in spring are merely lying dormant.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But those who in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries made erroneous predictions of imminent mass starvation erred by underestimating the world‑changing potential of grasses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Complaints vary from inquiries sent through the website going unanswered and erroneous card charges to broken or ineffective merchandise.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But everything is silky and precise to the touch, and the sound astonishingly full and sweet in the small room, with the strain of an accordion coming in through the open window.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Handcrafted in small batches, these blends are designed to take the guesswork out of cooking.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The minibar brimmed with complimentary sodas, addictively spicy small-batch pimento cheese Lowcountry Kettle Chips, and lemon sugar cookies from Charleston’s Own.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
If the kids are pushing for a Big Mac or Chick-fil-A spicy deluxe chicken sandwich, but the budget can’t support it, there’s a hack for that.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In September, Charlie Kirk, Turning Point’s founder, had been assassinated by a gunman at Utah Valley University.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Haiti was plunged into crisis in 2021, when mercenaries assassinated President Jovenel Moise.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The accusations have made a dent on prediction markets like Kalshi, where Swalwell’s odds of winning the governor’s race dipped to 39% on Tuesday night, down from a high of nearly 73% on March 20.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Only in the second half, with the Heat down 16, did the two share time on the court together, and then only briefly.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
