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
Grid failure doesn’t just mean the lights turning off, Straubel said.
—
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 June 2026
However, if the temperature is set too low, then the air conditioner may operate for long periods of time, rarely turning off.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 8 June 2026
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
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 June 2026
However, if the temperature is set too low, then the air conditioner may operate for long periods of time, rarely turning off.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 8 June 2026
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
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
-
The show is deviating from the order of Kennedy's books, which explored the romance between Logan and Grace in the second installment, The Mistake.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Those who found Hillary Dawa were members of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), which sets the routes, ropes and ladders through the Khumbu Icefall at the start of the season, and is in charge of removing waste from the mountain once climbers have left.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Regularly cleaning filters, emptying dust containers, and removing hair from the brush roll can help keep the machine running efficiently for years.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
5 June 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
-
The show follows Charles, Oliver and Mabel, three eccentric neighbors, who find purpose and chaos in solving murders that hit close to home through their true-crime podcast, turning their New York apartment building into a playground of mystery and mischief.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
-
After 26 years of helping Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents through financial and housing difficulties, Crisis Assistance Ministry CEO Carol Hardison is turning a new page.—
Laura Horne,
Charlotte Observer,
10 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
-
Those humans had been killing elk for a very long time and may have even followed the elk and bison onto the continent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
Anthony, now 19, was accused of killing Metcalf on April 2, 2025, at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turning off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20off. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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