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
The right wing then scraped the ground and broke off at the fuselage, releasing a cloud of jet fuel that caught fire as the airplane overturned and moved down the runway.
—
David Schaper, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025
Photos and video were also posted to social media showing pieces of the helicopter, including the rotor, appearing to break off before the body of the craft falls out of the sky into the water.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2025
The deep fake issue was broken off into a separate bill because lawmakers could not agree on all the aspects of a much larger, all-encompassing bill that would regulate the fast-developing world of artificial intelligence.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2025
But the Packers ranked 29th in kick returns, as teams were willing to give them those extra five yards on a touchback instead of risking Nixon breaking off a long return.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
David Schaper, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025
Photos and video were also posted to social media showing pieces of the helicopter, including the rotor, appearing to break off before the body of the craft falls out of the sky into the water.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2025
The deep fake issue was broken off into a separate bill because lawmakers could not agree on all the aspects of a much larger, all-encompassing bill that would regulate the fast-developing world of artificial intelligence.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2025
But the Packers ranked 29th in kick returns, as teams were willing to give them those extra five yards on a touchback instead of risking Nixon breaking off a long return.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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When the American money stopped flowing, the local soup kitchen closed and Ms. Musa went out searching for food.—
Declan Walsh,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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The confrontation stopped and restarted as the man appeared to try to get the knife away from Perez over the fence.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Lawmakers can typically override a governor’s veto with another vote on the bill if the legislation receives two-thirds support from each chamber, though the Idaho Legislature ended this year’s regular legislative session early this month.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
15 Apr. 2025
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What to know ahead of Tax Day deadline Tax season ends at midnight on Tuesday, April 15 – for most filers, at least.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That shouldn’t be a surprise because the Packers would rather cease to exist as a franchise than draft an offensive lineman who can’t play at least three.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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Without these little guys and their fellow pollinators, our gardens would be devoid of fruit, our flowers would not spread, and many species that rely on them would cease to exist.—
Katie Akin,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The fate of president of basketball operations James Jones is not yet known, but his contract expires at the end of June, league sources said, and Ishbia is widely expected to consider new candidates for the role.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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With key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set to expire at the end of this year, Washington is debating tax reform behind closed doors, and their decisions will reverberate through every corner of American life.—
Jack Salmon,
National Review,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The sources said Unilever is threatening to halt the funding in retaliation for the lawsuit, and because one of the ice cream maker's founders has tried to buy back the frozen dessert maker.—
Jessica DiNapoli,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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Some see Maine as a precursor to what California can expect: a Trump administration attempt to halt federal education funding.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This Wedding Banquet concludes with a scene of Angela, Lee, Min, and Chris jointly raising two children, the kid Angela had after a drunken fling with Chris and the one Lee had through the IVF that Min funded.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
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The events will conclude with the beginning of the Novemdiales, a symbolic and procedural period of nine days of prayer, mourning and remembrance.—
Gabriele Regalbuto,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There are myriad, clear alcohol health risks that can be improved by quitting drinking altogether or lowering alcohol consumption.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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That included taking calculated risks—such as quitting her make-ends-meet career as a registered nurse and declining an early deal with Walmart.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Trump administration is cutting off the huge stream of data that's been feeding the nation's largest study of women's health, which has produced a series of landmark discoveries.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2025
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Trump briefly cut off aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, but resumed after Zelenskyy agreed to an immediate ceasefire, a call Putin has rebuffed.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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