as in cessation
the stopping of a process or activity
the utility company threatened them with the shutoff of electricity if the bills weren't paid
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
threatened to shut off peace talks if the other side kept making unreasonable demands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to kill
to cause to stop functioning
shut off the computer to save electricity
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 shutoff
Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Even before the pandemic…These seizures have already led to evictions and utility shutoffs.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Nearby brain regions such as the thalamus, which relays information from your senses to the rest of your brain, shut off first.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutoff
Noun
The safety features like the auto-shutoff also help with peace of mind, and make this humidifier the ideal choice for kids and pets.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Even before the pandemic…These seizures have already led to evictions and utility shutoffs.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Early Thursday, the suspects smashed through a brick wall from an adjacent building, shut off power and tried to disable the alarm system at a jewelry store in Lodi, sheriff’s officials said.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Nearby brain regions such as the thalamus, which relays information from your senses to the rest of your brain, shut off first.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shutoff
Noun
-
Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The plan is grounded in immediate cessation of hostilities, the exchange of hostages and prisoners, and a road map for the administrative and economic reconstruction of Gaza.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The former instantly adds a second layer of security against unwanted guests, and the latter emits an ultra-loud alarm while acting like a door stop wedge, scaring off any stranger who tries to enter your room.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
-
And Los Angeles did not stop there.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, the demon baby then proceeded to brutally rip apart and kill Teddy, Phil, and Susie, leaving only Lilly and Ronnie alive before the credits rolled.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Israel’s offensive in Gaza, launched in response to the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas’s attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and laid waste to swaths of territory.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
One loose bolt or misplaced screw is enough to grind the entire contraption to a halt.—
Robert Mays,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The Brit was looking to cement his status after a blistering 60-second knockout of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, but his night came to a sudden halt before the opening round could conclude.—
Antonio Losada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a filing on Friday, the nearly-defunct federal body sought summary judgment in NPR’s lawsuit against the organization over its decision to appropriate funding for satellite distribution to a select group of NPR member stations before the CPB ceases operations.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Congress failed to pass a budget or temporary funding measure before the federal fiscal year ended on October 1, forcing many federal agencies to cease all non-mandatory operations.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Nampa woman, Alyssa VanPaepeghem, braked, but the cars still crashed.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Buses are larger, less capable of swerving, and take longer to brake, but bus drivers are also far more likely to drive cautiously and avoid speeding, said Toronto.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Steven Spielberg saw the original cut of the film prior to its release in which Katie dies, and convinced Peli to reshoot the more ominous ending where Featherston simply goes missing.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Here's the ending of A House of Dynamite, explained.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The 3-0 defeat to Chelsea that ended Ange Postecoglou’s 39-day reign was their worst display in this respect.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
In fact, all three women were heartbreakers — a major vibe shift after the two couples who broke up early this season ended because of the men.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shutoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutoff. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share