1
as in to distract
to draw the attention or mind to something else
she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cancel
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of call off
Netanyahu’s remarks on Tuesday, however, are raising concerns the fragile deal will be called off before the remaining hostages are freed.
—
Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Searchers tried again to locate the car using sonar and video imaging software but were unsuccessful, ultimately calling off their search just before 9:45 p.m., CHP officials said.
—Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 4 Feb. 2025
Bésame Mucho, a celebration of Latin music, was also called off.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
One year after her fiancé Jason (Jay Pharoah) suddenly calls off their wedding, aspiring pop star Erica Wilson (Christina Milian, once more) books a gig in paradise, the East African island of Mauritius, only to discover she’s been hired to perform at his nuptials.
—Shannon Carlin, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Searchers tried again to locate the car using sonar and video imaging software but were unsuccessful, ultimately calling off their search just before 9:45 p.m., CHP officials said.
—Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 4 Feb. 2025
Bésame Mucho, a celebration of Latin music, was also called off.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
One year after her fiancé Jason (Jay Pharoah) suddenly calls off their wedding, aspiring pop star Erica Wilson (Christina Milian, once more) books a gig in paradise, the East African island of Mauritius, only to discover she’s been hired to perform at his nuptials.
—Shannon Carlin, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
-
Such a merger seems exceedingly far from likely, even if Tesla CEO Elon Musk wasn't completely distracted dismantling the federal government and its workforce.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
21 Feb. 2025
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There's a lot to get distracted by, which is a big part of the fun.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The largest item on its latest list is a $1.9 billion cut at the Treasury Department—except this contract was actually canceled last fall, under the Biden administration, before DOGE even existed, The Times reported.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
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Nearly seven years after Daredevil was canceled at Netflix, Daredevil: Born Again has risen from the ashes.—
Kirsten Chuba,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Rather than addressing these critical security threats, the Pakistani military’s resources have been diverted to a campaign of vengeance against political opponents such as PTI.—
Imran Khan,
TIME,
28 Feb. 2025
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The money has to come from somewhere — most of the time, it’s diverted from its emerging markets competitor India.—
Seema Mody,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Fortunately for Merz, the unprecedented security situation can be used as political cover to abandon the debt brake, at least for investment in defense.—
Ido Vock,
TIME,
22 Feb. 2025
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After all, few imagined that Trump would move so swiftly to not only abandon Ukraine, but also to threaten it—undermining Ukraine’s self-defense at the very moment that defense is complicating Russian war plans.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Stress throws off some key hormones that control your menstrual cycle.—
Julia Ries,
SELF,
24 Feb. 2025
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Michael Kopech threw off a mound Saturday for the first time this spring.—
Bill Plunkett,
Orange County Register,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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That's why Russell thinks the tariffs are likely to be reduced, postponed or scrapped.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
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Congressional leaders could soon scrap weeks of budget talks in favor of a simple funding extension as Republicans weigh the best strategy to avert a government shutdown.—
David Sivak,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In January, President Donald Trump froze funds earmarked by the Biden administration for a nationwide EV charging network and revoked former President Biden's 2021 executive order setting targets for EVs and emissions standards.—
Will McCurdy,
PCMAG,
23 Feb. 2025
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In that way, the new suit differs from CNN’s legal action in 2018, when the White House revoked correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The map includes incidents involving both large and small aircraft that crashed, veered off the runway, or were involved in taxiway collisions at airports, while less severe FAA cases—such as flights that landed safely or aborted takeoff due to engine problems or other issues—were excluded.—
John Feng,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
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The option of aborting a fetus diagnosed with Down syndrome.—
Lorena Galliot,
Scientific American,
12 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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