as in repeal
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 canceling
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
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Recent Examples of calling off
Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 16 Jan. 2026
Coffman said that shows officers and their supervisors are judiciously calling off pursuits that become too dangerous.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
The university cited budget cuts as the reason for calling off this year's dinner for the first time in its almost 60-year history, according to a letter posted by the Black Student Union.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 16 Jan. 2026
Coffman said that shows officers and their supervisors are judiciously calling off pursuits that become too dangerous.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
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
Noun
-
Health care and business groups oppose a repeal.—
Jim Saunders,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Another prospect is that not all of the cuts materialize — say, the trash fee repeal doesn’t happen — or the field of tax increases thins out, making those that remain more palatable to voters.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
It’s been only about three weeks since Trump toppled Maduro, and already a long line of other flashpoints — from immigration enforcement to Greenland — are distracting attention from what his administration is doing in Caracas.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The whole idea is to choose something that isn't too distracting.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The ruling also marks the latest win for the administration in its legal battles over canceling various environmental, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and other grants issued by the Biden administration.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Jan. 2026
-
People are canceling memberships in park organizations and citing the new fees as the primary reason, the partnership said.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The disruptions led to thousands of flight delays and cancellations, while hospitals, banks and other businesses around the world were also affected.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Nearly half of those cancellations came from American, which has already slashed 501 flights from its schedule.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The memory shortage is only expected to worsen this year, as manufacturers continue to focus on the growing memory demands of the AI industry, diverting capacity from electronics manufacturers.—
Matthew Chin,Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The land is surrounded by water, with the Boise River on one side and a stream diverting from the river running along the other.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than abandoning values, Sesame Solar reframed them in terms that decision-makers were already used to hearing.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Hours after her murder, Wilson encountered Ruiz and persuaded her to get into his vehicle under false pretenses, and then killed her before running her over multiple times and abandoning her body in a nearby field, per Gulf Coast News Now.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
He was charged with endangerment or abandonment of a child and has pleaded not guilty.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Adrian Gonzales, 52, was acquitted on 29 counts of child abandonment and endangerment.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Less light exposure during the winter months shifts your biological clock, throwing off your hormones, mood, and sleep.—
Marisa McMillan,
Outside,
20 Dec. 2025
-
The next step for Horton, who’s recovering from a fractured right rib, will be throwing off a mound on Tuesday at Wrigley Field.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Calling off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling%20off. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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