1
as in ending
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopping
to come to an end
talks between the two sides broke off when one began making unreasonable demands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breaking off
Johnson then carried the ball on the last four plays, breaking off carries of eight, nine and 10 yards.
—
Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
After breaking off her first engagement with Affleck in 2004, the singer went on to marry singer-songwriter Marc Anthony.
—Ariana Quihuiz, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
An individual was treated for injuries in connection with an incident involving acrylic glass breaking off of a water slide, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson indicated in a statement to Fox News Digital.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
After breaking off her first engagement with Affleck in 2004, the singer went on to marry singer-songwriter Marc Anthony.
—Ariana Quihuiz, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
An individual was treated for injuries in connection with an incident involving acrylic glass breaking off of a water slide, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson indicated in a statement to Fox News Digital.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking off
Verb
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The number of ski visits at domestic ski resorts climbed by nearly 13% in the year ending April 30 to 26 million, according to the China Ski Industry White Paper.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Last season, McCarthy was on the sideline with a season-ending meniscus injury suffered during preseason.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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To my surprise, Gary Friedman, the CEO and visionary behind the brand, was in the restaurant, casually moving between tables and greeting guests before graciously stopping at ours.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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One video was a loop showing the moment of impact in slow-motion, stopping before blood is seen.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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War When the first shots of the conflict were fired in April 2023, domestic soccer within Sudan was immediately halted, with the majority of the country’s teams ceasing to compete at any meaningful level.—
Rory Fleming,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
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The group’s catalog maintains a never-ceasing presence on charts all around the world, and many of the rock classic hits included in the outfit’s discography still sell and stream in meaningful numbers every single week.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The expiring boost, implemented in Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act under former President Joe Biden, applies to 22 million of the 24 million low- and middle-income Americans with plans through the ACA marketplace.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
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Republicans have proposed several short-term funding options running from November to January, but Democrats want Republicans to negotiate with them, especially on extending expiring health care subsidies.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Goldman Sachs says surging investment in AI among the S&P 500 companies is diverting funds from stock buybacks, halting their usual yearly growth.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
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Under orders from General Erinmore (Colin Firth), the pair must traverse enemy lines to deliver a life-or-death message to Colonel Mackenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch), halting an attack that would endanger more than 1,000 men.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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All the way back in 1928, researchers published a study concluding that coffee had a diuretic effect, making participants urinate more.—
Fran Kritz,
Health,
9 Sep. 2025
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The Poway concert is the beginning of their fall tour that will take the couple throughout California and up the West Coast, concluding in Vancouver, Washington.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Ewpjdk 4-Pack Garden Pruning Shears come with four pruning shears for the price of one and are versatile enough to take on all kinds of fall pruning tasks, like harvesting, clipping, deadheading, and cutting off the final fruits of the season, before winter comes.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
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The 11-year-old was suffering an asthma attack, which was cutting off his supply of oxygen.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The phones were all on and were not shutting off.—
Yaakov Katz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
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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,
New Atlas,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20off. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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