1
as in ending
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turning off
to cause to stop functioning
shut off the computer to save electricity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shutting off
If the patient moves, the system can react instantly, shutting off the beam to help prevent harm to healthy tissue, according to a press release.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
When the construction project starts next year, the road into the basin will be closed, shutting off access to the area.
—Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Jan. 2026
The plan discussed in committee would also create parameters for providers shutting off water service to residents.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025
At one point, customers heard a rumor that SDG&E was shutting off electricity to the building — an alarming development that would have left the business’s freezers without power.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Audrey Hepburn plays a blind woman who manages to thwart intruders by shutting off all the lights in her apartment.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2025
Like houses slowly shutting off their lights as a town falls into slumber, the brain gradually turns to night mode.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Burton is one of over a dozen people who have been arrested on suspicion of helping the escapees, including another inmate in the jail and a jail maintenance worker who is accused of shutting off water to the toilet allowing escapees to remove it.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025
Although SoCal Edison can prevent electrical fires by shutting off the power that flows through the lines, the utility did not turn the power off to most circuits that power Altadena.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
When the construction project starts next year, the road into the basin will be closed, shutting off access to the area.
—Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Jan. 2026
The plan discussed in committee would also create parameters for providers shutting off water service to residents.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025
At one point, customers heard a rumor that SDG&E was shutting off electricity to the building — an alarming development that would have left the business’s freezers without power.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Audrey Hepburn plays a blind woman who manages to thwart intruders by shutting off all the lights in her apartment.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2025
Like houses slowly shutting off their lights as a town falls into slumber, the brain gradually turns to night mode.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Burton is one of over a dozen people who have been arrested on suspicion of helping the escapees, including another inmate in the jail and a jail maintenance worker who is accused of shutting off water to the toilet allowing escapees to remove it.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025
Although SoCal Edison can prevent electrical fires by shutting off the power that flows through the lines, the utility did not turn the power off to most circuits that power Altadena.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shutting off
Verb
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France passes budget after failed no-confidence votes France passed an annual budget, ending a long-running debacle that felled prime ministers, amplified support for the far right, and raised doubts over the country’s long-term finances.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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Newsome played for Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, at Michigan and then joined the Wolverines as a student assistant in 2018 after suffering a career-ending injury.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Duke recommends lowering thermostats, turning off unnecessary devices and not using major appliances such as washing machines, dryers and dishwashers during that time.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Feb. 2026
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According to a report from the American Psychological Association, effective media guardrails that can improve your mental health include turning off all phone notifications, adding tech-free periods every day and limiting social media sessions to 15 minutes or less.—
Hunter Boyce,
AJC.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the day wears on, the interview subjects recall their WhatsApp groups lighting up, until more people from the surrounding buildings add to the sea of residents stopping the van from taking off.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
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Teams will fill the rocket’s tank with more than 700,000 gallons of super-cold fuel, stopping a half-minute short of when the engines would light.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jill Biden's ex-husband has been charged with killing his wife.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
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Deputies responded to a call about an active shooter at the venue and the first deputy at the scene, Nicholas Moore, approached a man in the parking lot, ordered the man to drop his gun, and shot the man, killing him.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The anti-trapping bills that are pumped through legislatures each year show no signs of ceasing.—
Skye Goode,
Outdoor Life,
29 Jan. 2026
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To cope with the situation, Perez would often tighten his budget by ceasing to go out with friends and cutting some corners to save extra money.—
Alvaro Acosta,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When the car finally got moving, protesters began throwing obstacles in its path — Lime scooters, bicycles, seemingly anything that might trigger the car’s automatic anti-collision braking system.—
Evan Minsker,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2026
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Unlike modern probes that descend on landing legs, Luna 9 jettisoned its orientation modules during descent and fired a braking engine.—
Ilya Ferapontov,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The leaks cropped up early in Monday’s loading operation and again hours later, ultimately halting the countdown clocks at the five-minute mark.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Top New York Democrats celebrate Sunrise Wind ruling Danish company Orsted sued the administration over halting both Sunrise Wind and its Revolution Wind for Rhode Island and Connecticut.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Advocates warn that cutting off the child care subsidies could have deep impacts.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
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That includes promoting financial education, encouraging competition among lenders, and supporting policies that increase transparency without cutting off opportunity.—
Julio Fuentes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shutting off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutting%20off. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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