1
as in to stop
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 to end
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 break off
Higher, faster, changing keys, breaking off into riffs and climaxes.
—
Anelise Chen, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2025
Sherri Crichton was thrilled that the original team behind ER wanted to do a reboot and was shocked when Warner Bros. abruptly broke off negotiations and announced The Pitt – a carbon copy of the ER reboot that was pitched to her.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025
Most of the microplastic is shed in the first two minutes of chewing, the release says, because the grinding of teeth causes the plastic to break off.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Avoid jerking the valve or forcing it to turn, as this could cause the valve to break off.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Anelise Chen, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2025
Sherri Crichton was thrilled that the original team behind ER wanted to do a reboot and was shocked when Warner Bros. abruptly broke off negotiations and announced The Pitt – a carbon copy of the ER reboot that was pitched to her.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025
Most of the microplastic is shed in the first two minutes of chewing, the release says, because the grinding of teeth causes the plastic to break off.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Avoid jerking the valve or forcing it to turn, as this could cause the valve to break off.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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Has Bacteria-Fighting Properties A study found that ACV helped stop the growth of two harmful bacteria: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli).—
Johna Burdeos,
Health,
7 Apr. 2025
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This budget resolution stops a $4 trillion tax hike from hitting families and small businesses.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rain chances are expected to end by late Sunday afternoon and evening.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2025
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Here, then, there are no fierce battles that end within a matter of minutes, and no miles-long journeys glossed over by a convenient dissolve.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Yellow’s bankruptcy journey has lasted roughly 20 months, with the century-old less-than-truckload (LTL) company ceasing operations July 30, 2023.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
1 Apr. 2025
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If Jun-no can’t turn things around quickly the company may cease to exist.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Many of the tariffs on Chinese products remained in place during the Joe Biden administration while others expired.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Apr. 2025
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Cal Fire is currently under contract to serve the southern district, but the county has opted to allow that contract to expire at the end of June.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In Afghanistan, where over 23 million people rely on aid, the cuts will end food support for millions, halt care for malnourished children, and disrupt maternal health services.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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Several factors could halt the tariffs imposed by Mr. Trump, according to experts.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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China's tariff rate is now in triple digit territory, and who knows what happens in 90 days when this pause concludes.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
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The audience peaked with around 21.1M viewers as the nail-biting game, in which the Gators trailed for a majority of the time, was concluding.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Among the factors: ESOPs outperform non-ESOPs in job retention, pay, and workplace health safety and lower voluntary worker quit rates.—
Mary Josephs,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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And the fact that players haven’t quit is an encouraging sign.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The witness told investigators that Griffin swerved to cut off Francis, court documents read, at which point Francis pulled up beside the of the green Sierra and allegedly fired four to five shots into the truck through the front window on the drivers’ side.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2025
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The Trump administration has attempted to cut off that funding, but that decision is being challenged in court.—
Albert Sun,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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