as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity
the utility company threatened them with the shutoff of electricity if the bills weren't paid
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Recent Examples of shutoffs
Most utility companies maintain lists of households with medical devices, and they are supposed to notify customers ahead of power shutoffs and prioritize restoring power to their homes.
—
Katherine Asmussen, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
The businesses in an industrial park on the outer edge of Fort Collins are banding together and expressing their frustrations about recent power shutoffs by Xcel Energy.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Although the wind forecast sparked concerns about widespread power outages among utility providers, most Front Range companies reported limited power cuts, especially compared with the sweeping public safety power shutoffs that hit tens of thousands of Front Range customers in December.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
When public safety power shutoffs last days, how do families, small businesses, hospitals, and first responders operate?
—Suzette Valladares, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
The bill also orders utilities to implement low-income financial assistance programs and creates a moratorium for electricity shutoffs during warmer weather.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 29 Jan. 2026
Those forms would help volunteers gather information needed to verify people’s situations — an eviction, utility shutoffs, or food stamps, among other issues — to make sure the nonprofit could help them.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Dec. 2025
The fierce Santa Ana winds blowing dry desert air over the mountains and out to sea had already triggered public safety power shutoffs.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Some 3,300 customers in the Malibu area remained without power, due to safety shutoffs and for firefighter safety.
—Christopher Weber, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Katherine Asmussen, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
The businesses in an industrial park on the outer edge of Fort Collins are banding together and expressing their frustrations about recent power shutoffs by Xcel Energy.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Although the wind forecast sparked concerns about widespread power outages among utility providers, most Front Range companies reported limited power cuts, especially compared with the sweeping public safety power shutoffs that hit tens of thousands of Front Range customers in December.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
When public safety power shutoffs last days, how do families, small businesses, hospitals, and first responders operate?
—Suzette Valladares, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
The bill also orders utilities to implement low-income financial assistance programs and creates a moratorium for electricity shutoffs during warmer weather.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 29 Jan. 2026
Those forms would help volunteers gather information needed to verify people’s situations — an eviction, utility shutoffs, or food stamps, among other issues — to make sure the nonprofit could help them.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Dec. 2025
The fierce Santa Ana winds blowing dry desert air over the mountains and out to sea had already triggered public safety power shutoffs.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Some 3,300 customers in the Malibu area remained without power, due to safety shutoffs and for firefighter safety.
—Christopher Weber, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shutoffs
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
Noun
-
Former leaders warn that the loss of institutional knowledge, combined with halts to the incoming pipeline of public health workers, may lead to a long-term crisis.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Automotive industry analysts are forecasting that another microchip shortage could hit in the coming months, which could increase risks for production halts as costs skyrocket.—
Breana Noble,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Indeed, later editors eventually added two more endings to Mark’s Gospel.—
Mary Foskett,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Things run long in part because the script has too many endings.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The State Department also warned travelers to prepare for potential disruptions, including periodic airspace closures that could affect international flights.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The crunch has forced business closures in Japan, while South Korea has asked people to take shorter showers and to use bicycles to get around.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While data breaches and hacks can trigger financial loss and chaos—from data-wiping to hospital shutdowns—the activities usually stop short of causing widespread loss of life or devastating physical destruction.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Hundreds of millions of people, and entire industries, from the Persian Gulf to Asia, have been affected by industry shutdowns, rising food and heating costs stemming from higher energy prices, and fuel shortages.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
My pop would solder wires to two foot-long metal rods, and then solder battery clips to the other ends.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
-
There are too many examples of religion trying to control all of us, and only for their ends, not ours.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Much of the work will take place between the two major closures, PennDOT said, adding that crews will keep a lane open in both directions, except for intermittent 15-minute stoppages.—
Ricky Sayer,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Given that a successful appeal would see the challenge retained, there could theoretically be a large amount of stoppages.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shutoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutoffs. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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