1
as in stopped
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 expired
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 broke off
Part of the helicopter broke off before the crash.
—
Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
Looking to regain momentum, the Knights found it behind Flannery, who broke off a big 25-yard rush with a quarterback keeper to place Catholic Memorial in the red zone.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
According to the New York Post, visitors broke off parts of the headstone as souvenirs.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
The program said the opposing aircraft broke off the engagement and withdrew from the area, and the jet model involved had not returned to the Chinese coast since.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
The issue is that opposing offenses have tended to run at him, like when Panthers tailback Rico Dowdle broke off a 25-yard run right before the end of the first half.
—Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
About 10 minutes later, one or two members of the group broke off to spray-paint vehicles and the guard booth.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
The bottom line of her eyeliner broke off from her waterline to touch her nasal bone.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
The move comes after Inspirato broke off a deal to combine Inspirato with Buyerlink, a digital marketing firm that Inspirato CEO Payam Zamani also owns.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
Looking to regain momentum, the Knights found it behind Flannery, who broke off a big 25-yard rush with a quarterback keeper to place Catholic Memorial in the red zone.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
According to the New York Post, visitors broke off parts of the headstone as souvenirs.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
The program said the opposing aircraft broke off the engagement and withdrew from the area, and the jet model involved had not returned to the Chinese coast since.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
The issue is that opposing offenses have tended to run at him, like when Panthers tailback Rico Dowdle broke off a 25-yard run right before the end of the first half.
—Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
About 10 minutes later, one or two members of the group broke off to spray-paint vehicles and the guard booth.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
The bottom line of her eyeliner broke off from her waterline to touch her nasal bone.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
The move comes after Inspirato broke off a deal to combine Inspirato with Buyerlink, a digital marketing firm that Inspirato CEO Payam Zamani also owns.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke off
Verb
-
On Sunday, Jeanty was stopped for a loss or no gain on four of his 10 runs against light boxes, and overall, the Las Vegas Raiders were stuffed 11 times on 29 attempts — the most of any team in a game this season.—
Vic Tafur,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
This was a couple who had never stopped laughing at one another’s jokes, who still held hands like teenagers into their 50s.—
Bee Wilson,
Vogue,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Their contract has also expired.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The most recent three-year contract expired September 28.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Other areas, like transition program assistance, have ceased during the shutdown.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Eventually, the extended family gatherings ceased altogether.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Seven of the top flight’s 20 teams ended that campaign with a pass completion rate of less than 70 per cent.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
In April, Brazil ended visa-free travel for citizens of the US, Canada, and Australia, citing a lack of reciprocity.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In 1977, consumer groups petitioned federal regulators to ban the marketing of sugary foods to children, but industry lobbying halted those efforts.—
Alice Callahan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Vought's comments came shortly before a federal judge in California ‒ on the 15th day of the shutdown ‒ halted the administration’s layoffs for now in a case brought by two labor unions.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Weekend Update concluded with a joke off between Jost, Che, and former anchors Tina Fey, Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler, who was SNL‘s host Saturday.—
William Vaillancourt,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Beyond its monetary value, the treasure hoard holds significant historical importance, the press release concluded.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Many of the farms, which are traditionally passed down to men within a family, have been abandoned.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The state of Ohio has already passed a law requiring schools to notify parents of certain things, including if their student requests to be identified as a different gender.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Staff at The Free Press are eager to start working with CBS News; reporter Olivia Reingold appeared on CBS News Friday morning to discuss her report that anonymous NYPD officers had been threatening to quit the force if Zohran Mamdani is elected New York City mayor.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Apparently, many workers crash out and quit on the third Wednesday at the job.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broke off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20off. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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