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
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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
The remark came in response to my parents turning off my bedroom light.
—
Joseph O’Neill, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Security experts recommend turning off exterior lights overnight, but there are myriad reasons for wanting a light outside your home.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
Perhaps turning off the replies would have been the move, although that also would have drawn attention.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Texas teacher’s arrest exposes holes in do-not-hire checks An Elgin middle school teacher accused of molesting an eighth grader had previously resigned from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department after giving a shirtless youth a skin-to-skin back rub and turning off his body camera.
—Jj Velasquez, San Antonio Express-News, 10 May 2026
By turning off the gene, called ANGPTL3, blood lipid levels should fall.
—David Cox, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
Unsafe practices can include turning off the automatic tracking system that transmits the vessel's location to other ships.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
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
Joseph O’Neill, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Security experts recommend turning off exterior lights overnight, but there are myriad reasons for wanting a light outside your home.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
Perhaps turning off the replies would have been the move, although that also would have drawn attention.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Texas teacher’s arrest exposes holes in do-not-hire checks An Elgin middle school teacher accused of molesting an eighth grader had previously resigned from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department after giving a shirtless youth a skin-to-skin back rub and turning off his body camera.
—Jj Velasquez, San Antonio Express-News, 10 May 2026
By turning off the gene, called ANGPTL3, blood lipid levels should fall.
—David Cox, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
Unsafe practices can include turning off the automatic tracking system that transmits the vessel's location to other ships.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning off
Verb
-
The consequences of disgusting one’s wife, whether or not one agrees with her premise, could be enormous.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Discharge Papers • Aw, The Pitt is back and happy to be disgusting again!—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Charles Melton sweetly dedicated an award to his wife and newborn daughter, deviating from his famously private nature.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
-
However, it was criticized by pacifists at home and China for deviating from Japan’s postwar self-defense only principle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is done by cutting back the growing tip of the trunk (called the central leader) during the first winter after planting and selectively removing side branches.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
-
Some gardeners control the infestation by cutting the plants back or even removing them.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Smart power strips can help reduce energy waste by automatically shutting off devices not in use.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
-
Tehran cemented its grip on the Strait of Hormuz; a few more tankers managed to pass through in the last few days, albeit only by either negotiating in advance with Iran, or by shutting off their transponders and racing through.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The young Forster recoiled from the school’s culture of authoritarianism and militaristic chauvinism, which may have found expression in the students’ often appalling attitudes toward their own mothers.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Now, the soon-to-be junior and 2024 Team USA Olympic alternate has plans of turning UGA gymnastics into a superpower, drawing enthusiasm similar to the school’s most prominent sport.—
Hunter DeLauder,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026
-
The company specializes in repurposing old baseball gloves and turning them into one-of-a-kind leather products, particularly wallets, billfolds, card cases and money clips.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Villa’s then sporting director Monchi reportedly attempting a straight swap of him for goalkeeper Emi Martinez last summer is a sacking offence (perhaps literally).—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
Giants linebacker Abdul Carter didn’t waste any time sacking his own quarterback.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
Basically, tick tubes are cardboard tubes that have been filled with cotton that’s been treated with permethrin, a tick-killing chemical.—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turning off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20off. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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