as in cancelation
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to
the calling off of the senior prom is not going to go over well
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in distracting
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cancelling
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of calling off
Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
But lately, more buyers are calling off their deals to look for better ones.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
In it, Belly (Lola Tung) is headed to Paris after calling off her wedding to Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), unsure what the future holds for her.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
They were engaged for nearly a year before calling off their wedding less than one month before the date.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Years after calling off their first engagement, Affleck and Lopez reconnected then married in 2022.
—Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
But lately, more buyers are calling off their deals to look for better ones.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
In it, Belly (Lola Tung) is headed to Paris after calling off her wedding to Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), unsure what the future holds for her.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
They were engaged for nearly a year before calling off their wedding less than one month before the date.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling off
Verb
-
With Jorgen Strand Larsen, who scored vital goals last season, suffering from an injury and a distracting transfer saga amid interest from Newcastle, Pereira has had to work with three crucial players through the spine of his team either missing or below par.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Here, the challenge was capturing speed, altitude, and precision in a way that feels immediate without distracting from the story.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 did not immediately solve the industry's problems, as distillers needed years to age new whiskey.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Florida Republican lawmakers have been pushing for the repeal of a gun safety law passed after the Parkland massacre in 2018.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The suit accuses Haman of running an online retailer, Quba Pro Inc, that allegedly defrauded Cornerstone by raising money in a financing agreement and diverting the funds.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Goldman Sachs says surging investment in AI among the S&P 500 companies is diverting funds from stock buybacks, halting their usual yearly growth.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
White House officials briefly explored cancelling some of SpaceX’s deals with NASA and the Department of Defense, The Wall Street Journal reported in July.—
John Hyatt,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The woman noted that canceling the shower has left her heartbroken.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While some travelers choose to fly on Thanksgiving Day for lower prices and crowds, most leave at least a day early to avoid the risk of cancellations or delays upending their holiday plans.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Noise Cancellation The AirPods Pro 3 have a new active noise cancellation (ANC) system that Apple says can block out twice as much outside noise as the AirPods Pro 2.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lòpez threw a bullpen session Friday, his second time throwing off the mound since surgery.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
But the Broncos’ pre-snap motion looked messy at times, and Nix spent much of his time Sunday throwing off-platform.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This doesn't mean making reckless career moves or abandoning job security without proper planning.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Since arriving at Starbucks during a time of turmoil, Niccol, a former top executive at Chipotle, has tried to rebuild personal connections with customers through initiatives like abandoning pickup-only shops and adjusting the interior design of stores.—
Eric Jackson,
Sportico.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While Beijing hasn’t gone as far as Moscow, its quiet abandonment of the denuclearization goal marks a subtle yet consequential shift – one that could open the door to closer China-North Korea ties, or even bolster momentum for trilateral cooperation with Russia, Zhao said.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
-
People can handle uncertainty, but not abandonment.—
Daisy Auger-Domínguez,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Calling off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling%20off. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share