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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of break off
The noise of the yelling broke off a piece of dead limb or bark, which rattled down through the tree above me and struck my shoulder.
—
Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025
For example, sometimes solar eruptions — blips of plasma that erupt from our star's surface — can break off and shoot into space.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 26 Feb. 2025
With two outs in the second inning, Scherzer broke off a looping curveball to the Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt that looked to be below the zone and was called a ball by Ortiz.
—Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Even crazier were the deafening explosions erupting behind him as the 10- to 15-foot-thick lip of the wave broke off, sending thousands of tons of water crashing down behind him.
—Johnny Dodd, People.com, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025
For example, sometimes solar eruptions — blips of plasma that erupt from our star's surface — can break off and shoot into space.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 26 Feb. 2025
With two outs in the second inning, Scherzer broke off a looping curveball to the Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt that looked to be below the zone and was called a ball by Ortiz.
—Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Even crazier were the deafening explosions erupting behind him as the 10- to 15-foot-thick lip of the wave broke off, sending thousands of tons of water crashing down behind him.
—Johnny Dodd, People.com, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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Because right now, Russian strikes have not stopped.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
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Here are 3 reasons why leaders – political as well as corporate – should stop talking about themselves and others as players in a game.—
Pia Lauritzen,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Two previous deals that sought to end the strike failed to bring back enough guards to declare an end to the labor action.—
Landon Mion,
Fox News,
11 Mar. 2025
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The prospect of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine has always raised the possibility of territorial concessions to Russia.—
Tetiana Kotelnykova,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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However, this does not mean that nuclear waste storage has ceased to be an issue.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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Disney investors on Thursday voted down a proposal that the entertainment giant cease its participation in a prominent LGBTQ rights organization’s equality ratings program.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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And flight credits for tickets purchased on or after May 28 will expire in one year, or earlier, depending on the type of fare purchased.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
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Accounts or sessions should automatically expire after their set duration.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Their efforts to halt construction were ultimately unsuccessful, however, and the pipeline started operating in June 2017.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN,
18 Mar. 2025
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In other January texts, the mayor told political allies the city was undergoing a new Reconstruction era, an allusion to the period of rapid but ultimately halted Black advancement after the Civil War.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The tournament begins with the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio, and concludes with the championship showdown in San Antonio, Texas.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
18 Mar. 2025
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Safely reaching Earth concluded a trip that, for Williams and Wilmore, has garnered broad interest because of the unexpected nature of their extended stay in orbit and the dramatic turn of events that prevented them from returning home aboard the Boeing Starliner vehicle.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This is crucial, as 1 in 3 workers report having quit a role due to not aligning with the viewpoints of an organization’s leadership.—
Sander van ‘t Noordende,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
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At the time, Mitsuda was even threatening to quit at Square completely if he wasn’t given the chance to compose a game.—
Hayes Madsen,
Rolling Stone,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Some congregants had completely cut off communication with their own parents or grandparents because their families wouldn’t match their devotion to Rose and the church.—
Guthrie Scrimgeour,
Rolling Stone,
16 Mar. 2025
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So, if the cut off on money owed is June 30, 2029, for example, then Medved or a school hiring him would need $1.85 million to buy out the rest of his current contract.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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