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
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
Police recovered a knife, its blade broken off at the handle.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
The announcement also comes nearly two months after Comcast announced a plan to break off most of its cable TV networks, including MSNBC, from NBC News into its own company, currently known as SpinCo.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
So when Delta’s Bombardier CRJ900 crash-landed Monday, tipped over and skidded down the runway, its fuel-laden right wing broke off, leaving behind a massive inferno.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Johnny Dodd, People.com, 23 Feb. 2025
Police recovered a knife, its blade broken off at the handle.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
The announcement also comes nearly two months after Comcast announced a plan to break off most of its cable TV networks, including MSNBC, from NBC News into its own company, currently known as SpinCo.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
So when Delta’s Bombardier CRJ900 crash-landed Monday, tipped over and skidded down the runway, its fuel-laden right wing broke off, leaving behind a massive inferno.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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Often, women would wear the same watch for years, so why did the younger generations ever stop?—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2025
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That hasn't stopped the Trump administration from making some bold claims.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But just today, Trump said Russia will need to make some concessions in order for this war to end.—
ABC NEWS,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2025
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Use of the funding is up to the discretion of the organization, but vice president Gretchen Raffa confirmed that part of it will go towards stockpiling mifepristone, a drug used to end pregnancies.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The program ended in the early 1960s after a member of the CIA Inspector General's staff learned of MKUltra's experiments and ordered them to cease all experimentation on non-consenting subjects.—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
8 Mar. 2025
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On Thursday, the university, a historically Black institution, ordered the fraternity chapter to cease all activities and suspended pledging for all Greek organizations for the rest of the academic year.—
Neil Vigdor,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The first phase – which has seen the release of 38 hostages held by Hamas, five of whom were freed separately to the deal, and thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel – expires on Saturday.—
Mick Krever,
CNN,
27 Feb. 2025
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Government funding expires on March 14, and keeping the government open past the deadline will likely require bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In some of the first practical consequences of that rupture, U.S. shipments of weapons and equipment already en-route to Ukraine were halted Monday night, a U.S. defense official told NBC News.—
Artem Grudinin,
NBC News,
6 Mar. 2025
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All live-fire exercises in the current drill were halted until the investigation to determine the exact reason for the accident was finished.—
Hakyung Kate Lee,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Russian assaults are down from up to 60 per day to as few as 18, CDS concluded.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
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The decision also suggests the court in at least some cases is prepared to stand behind trial judges who conclude the administration might be violating the law.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As the countdown moves closer to the end of Windows 10 support this October, here are some compelling reasons to quit Windows and give Linux a try.—
Jason Evangelho,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Joe Biden’s third-highest-ranking DOJ official, Matthew Colangelo, quit the DOJ in November 2022 to join Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg three days after Trump announced his 2024 run.—
Carl Burdette,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The sound of gunshots rang out, after which people started running and the video abruptly cut off.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
6 Mar. 2025
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Trump is cutting off the Ukrainians, and taking some pressure off the Russians, just as the Ukrainians—with their increasingly deadly drones and artillery—may be on the cusp of turning the tide of the wider war.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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