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
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
If the plaque weakens and breaks apart, large clumps are released into the blood stream, and a large clump can block an artery, completely shutting off blood flow and causing a heart attack.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2025
The phones were all on and were not shutting off.
—Yaakov Katz, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Once in the body, CO molecules hijack your red blood cells, overpowering oxygen in the bloodstream and shutting off critical O2 supply to the brain, heart and other organs.
—New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2025
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
If the plaque weakens and breaks apart, large clumps are released into the blood stream, and a large clump can block an artery, completely shutting off blood flow and causing a heart attack.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2025
The phones were all on and were not shutting off.
—Yaakov Katz, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Once in the body, CO molecules hijack your red blood cells, overpowering oxygen in the bloodstream and shutting off critical O2 supply to the brain, heart and other organs.
—New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shutting off
Verb
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Ohtani had reached base safely a World Series-record 11 consecutive times after walking in the first inning, but Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber struck him out in the third inning, ending the impressive streak.—
Wayne Sterling,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
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The birthing experience was a surprising, but happy ending to an easy pregnancy.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And the data collected by volunteers in DC has convinced some building managers to make changes, like turning off lights and putting treatments on some windows.—
NPR,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
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Napier’s squad almost definitely isn’t turning off the lights, but the importance of player leadership, which was also a focus of Jackson’s, has reverberated through Napier’s most recent conversations.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sabatini said that former President Ronald Reagan's doctrine included intervening on behalf of and supporting military governments with the intention of stopping the spread of communism.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Sabres goalie Alex Lyon had about as much chance of stopping the shot as an extra-large pepperoni and bacon stood of surviving a Friday night in the Kloke household.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By refusing to specify details of the case, the government keeps the possibility alive of changing their reasoning or their claims to have the same effect for different reasons—just as the mob changes its reasoning for killing Cinna.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
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Local police and first responders are also accused of failing to take Davis’ threats of killing someone seriously.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But what was accomplished from the meeting remains unclear as Russia increased its aerial bombardment on Ukraine rather than ceasing military operations following the talks.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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And calling for a ceasefire means ceasing fire.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Each trike benefits from a hydraulic brake at each wheel, with 180-mm rotors, and the rear lighting setup includes a braking tail-light plus turn signaling.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Oct. 2025
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This included the landing gear failed to deploy, along with reverse thrusters, which redirect engine thrust forward and are crucial for braking.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and environmental advocacy group the Friends of the Everglades filed an early lawsuit that resulted in halting the construction of Alligator Alcatraz, arguing that the facility harms the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
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In January, Lau entered a Rule 11 agreement with Paxton, halting her from practicing.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Per the trailer, the duo decide that her hair must go and end up shaving it off — a drastic change that Stone embraced, cutting off her naturally blond locks for the role.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
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It was recently revealed that Andrew lied about cutting off his relationship with Epstein.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shutting off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutting%20off. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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