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 ended
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 broken off
Two park signs and a memorial tree were damaged, with the bottom half of one sign broken off and the other kicked down, splitting it in half.
—
Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The new research focused on clasts, fragments broken off from the mountain during the landslide.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025
Within a few minutes, whatever was on the other end had broken off the 80-pound line.
—Jack Prator, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The new research focused on clasts, fragments broken off from the mountain during the landslide.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025
Within a few minutes, whatever was on the other end had broken off the 80-pound line.
—Jack Prator, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken off
Verb
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Following input from the state environmental agency, Grayling posted a notice about the change online in August, 10 weeks after treatment stopped.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
18 Sep. 2025
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The person was taken to the hospital when the ride stopped and was later declared dead, park officials said.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Dow ended the day in the green but significantly off session highs, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closed the session lower.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
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Finances got so bad, and mistrust so high, that New York mob boss Meyer Lansky, an old childhood friend whose money was financing the project, allegedly ordered the hit that ended Siegel’s life in July 1947.—
Julie Tremaine,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The rule almost failed, however, when six Republicans halted action on the floor by initially voting against the procedural measure.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
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Though South Korea’s then President Park Geun-hye halted operations in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, the new statement explicitly absolves Pyongyang of any responsibility, and has been framed by conservatives as kowtowing to the Kim regime.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In 2022, things came to a head when the company not only failed to pay its vendors but also ceased communication with their customers.—
Amanda Lauren,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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At some point in the middle of Andersen’s speech, the shots from the range next door had ceased to startle me.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The video concluded with Sharon smiling for the camera while an owl was perched on her raptor glove.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Osbroune concluded her message with a heartfelt note of gratitude.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Start by cutting off the sleeves of thrifted or no longer worn sweaters.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Sep. 2025
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Jere is forced to get a job at a restaurant now that he's cut off financially.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That deal was struck in lieu of a retaliatory capital tax on foreign investors that was passed in the House version of the bill but was later removed by the Senate.—
Tobias Burns,
The Hill,
18 Sep. 2025
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President Joe Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act—passed solely with Democratic votes in Congress—provided historic incentives for clean energy manufacturers and EV and battery makers.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If the plaque weakens and breaks apart, large clumps are released into the blood stream, and a large clump can block an artery, completely shutting off blood flow and causing a heart attack.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Sep. 2025
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Auto start-stop is a vehicle feature that shuts off the engine when a vehicle is stopped to conserve fuel.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broken off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20off. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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