1
as in disgusting
to cause to feel disgust
that memorably bad meal turned me off about restaurant food for a while
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deviating
to change one's course or direction
turn off at the third exit and follow the ramp to your left
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in removing
to let go from office, service, or employment
eventually, the supervisor turned off the insubordinate employee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in shutting off
to cause to stop functioning
please turn off the fan when you're done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of turning off
But in this case, one woman claimed her cat was turning off her alarm.
—
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Try turning off your ad blocker.
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
Smith says nine Iranian oil tankers have traveled through the Strait of Hormuz by turning off transponders that reveal locations.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
Kids can't absorb too many rules without turning off and tuning out.
—Barrie Gillies, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
But the department has struggled to keep tabs on whether officers are breaking the rules by turning off their cameras during public encounters.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Frozen Pipes This may be the most serious risk of turning off your heat during the winter.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Make a point of occasionally turning off notifications or taking a walk without any smart devices — anything to reset your mind.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026
Choosing shorter showers, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, running full loads of laundry and dishes, fixing dripping faucets, adjusting irrigation schedules and watering lawns only when needed can all reduce demand on our aquifers.
—Claire Marks, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Try turning off your ad blocker.
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
Smith says nine Iranian oil tankers have traveled through the Strait of Hormuz by turning off transponders that reveal locations.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
Kids can't absorb too many rules without turning off and tuning out.
—Barrie Gillies, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
But the department has struggled to keep tabs on whether officers are breaking the rules by turning off their cameras during public encounters.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Frozen Pipes This may be the most serious risk of turning off your heat during the winter.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Make a point of occasionally turning off notifications or taking a walk without any smart devices — anything to reset your mind.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026
Choosing shorter showers, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, running full loads of laundry and dishes, fixing dripping faucets, adjusting irrigation schedules and watering lawns only when needed can all reduce demand on our aquifers.
—Claire Marks, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning off
Verb
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Discharge Papers • Aw, The Pitt is back and happy to be disgusting again!—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Accordingly, the warring factions have competed to depict themselves as the true embodiment of MAGA and paint their rivals as undermining Trump or deviating from his precepts.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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It’s suddenly seemed like deviating from the plan in the name of competing for the Stars and Stripes was a real possibility.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But with Friday’s 131-113 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Bulls were officially eliminated from postseason contention, removing the last sliver of competition from the final two-week stretch of the season.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
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While action has been quick in removing Chávez’s name, there has been plenty of debate on how best to move forward.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Companies could also consider shutting off access to their technology for certain time frames, Rae suggests.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
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If someone becomes trapped by suction, shutting off the pump can release the pressure immediately.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
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Truly appalling friend counsel here from Mindy.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
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When prairie goes under the plow, most of the organic matter disappears, turning living water‑holding, nutrient‑rich soil into mineral dust.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
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That might look like turning a profit for the first time, or seeing how their product or service changes the lives of customers.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The confrontation went viral in December 2024, as cameras captured Gastineau confronting Favre in 2023 over Michael Strahan sacking the Green Bay Packers legend to break Gastineau's single-season sack record.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
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So Green can go back to sad-sacking and triple-singling starting Saturday against the Thunder, and certainly Monday against the Jazz.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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An unknown assailant shoots up the Vances' house during a Shabbat meal, before killing himself with a cyanide cigarette.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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The measure passed, 363–117, killing the death penalty in France.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turning off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20off. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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