1
as in distracted
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in canceled
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of called off
Meanwhile, advocacy groups in Austin canceled the city’s annual Cesar Chavez March, and similar events in Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi have been called off.
—
Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
When Atlanta pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant called off his yearlong Target fast, the announcement set off fireworks.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Crosby said moments later, his agent told him that Baltimore called off the trade.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Duarte officials called off the city’s Cesar Chavez Day of Service event, scheduled for Saturday, March 21.
—Ryan Carter, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was reportedly given an ultimatum by his former fiancée before the two called off their wedding a month before it was set to take place.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The trade was called off after Crosby didn’t pass his physical, according to multiple reports.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The event had actually been called off, however.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Helicopter water drops were called off due to the quick results on the ground, authorities said.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
When Atlanta pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant called off his yearlong Target fast, the announcement set off fireworks.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Crosby said moments later, his agent told him that Baltimore called off the trade.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Duarte officials called off the city’s Cesar Chavez Day of Service event, scheduled for Saturday, March 21.
—Ryan Carter, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was reportedly given an ultimatum by his former fiancée before the two called off their wedding a month before it was set to take place.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The trade was called off after Crosby didn’t pass his physical, according to multiple reports.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The event had actually been called off, however.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Helicopter water drops were called off due to the quick results on the ground, authorities said.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for called off
Verb
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If the vehicle detects that the driver is distracted or sleeping when the program is on, the vehicle will come to a complete stop and call emergency services.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Teachers distracted children with songs As the attack unfolded, staff members and teachers at the temple’s pre-K scrambled for safety.—
Nouran Salahieh,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tonight’s Red Sox spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles has been cancelled due to inclement weather, the Orioles announced Monday morning.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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Yet at the same time, a broader anti-DEI push on the right has also ensnared Jewish projects, or generated confusion among university administrators as to whether Jewish events should be canceled on campuses where DEI is outlawed.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Between late April 2025 and mid-May 2025 alone, at least $510 million worth of Supermicro's servers assembled in the United States, were diverted to China, according to the indictment.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Europe is particularly attuned to how the conflict has diverted the White House’s attention from Russia’s war in Ukraine.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But many Oscar pundits abandoned ship, after Jordan pulled out a surprise win from the Actor Awards on March 1.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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However, in recent days traders have abandoned hope of easing from the Fed, with reducing odds of a cut this year.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It had supposedly been made in the nineteen-forties, for an Italian countess or an English lady, then scrapped, and afterward either smuggled out of the workroom by a starry-eyed seamstress or, with the atelier head’s approval, given to one of the in-house models.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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Some of those proposals have fallen by the wayside for this election cycle, others are being reconsidered, and some have been scrapped altogether, such as a fee on short-term vacation rentals in the city.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In both cases, the justices did not elaborate on their rationale for allowing TPS to be revoked in the interim.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Mar. 2026
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Court records show the judge also revoked her driver's license and ordered her to pay $10,000 in restitution, not have contact with the victim's family, complete 200 hours of community service and wear a curfew tether for 90 days.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His first attempt was aborted after a phone call with his worried mother, and the second and third attempts were derailed because the team officials suspected his intentions and dropped him from the squad.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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Crosby was viewed as the player who would do it, but when that deal was aborted, the Ravens quickly pivoted to Hendrickson.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last month, the EPA repealed the endangerment finding, which affirmed the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions and underpinned the agency’s ability to regulate those emissions from vehicles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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If the Legislature wanted to really help the city with its finances, then bring back the modest New York City commuter tax that was wrongly repealed on May 17, 1999.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Called off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/called%20off. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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