go off

1
as in to explode
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure specialists were able to deactivate the bomb before it went off

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 go off Boston’s non-Pritchard reserves totaled just three points before garbage time, however, and his top competitor for NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Malik Beasley, went off for Detroit. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2025 But after a seven-assist night against Denver the last time out (in a game his team won comfortably), there's a good chance tonight is the night Doncic goes off as a passer. Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025 The gun went off; a bullet hit the floor, then struck a coffee table. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025 Guns have a way of going off at inconvenient moments. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for go off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for go off
Verb
  • Even today, gangsta and drill rappers make headlines right here in Chicago when their music explodes into rivalries and retaliatory murders.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Then people start getting killed: a fatal injection in the shower, someone who gets shot and falls into an exploding brickhouse of fireworks, and plenty of knives out.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But as the pandemic progressed, killing hundreds of thousands of people around the world, Cuomo’s response also faced intense scrutiny over a controversial directive to transfer recovering Covid-19 patients back to nursing homes.
    Gloria Pazmino, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
  • As the evening progressed, the patio swelled with A-listers.
    Paul Chi, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Now, the beloved brand is entering a new phase: departing from the L’Oréal umbrella to be independently-owned once again.
    Larry Stansbury, Essence, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The United Airlines jet was forced to make an emergency landing at Waco Regional Airport in Waco, Texas, due to the turbulence after departing from Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri on Sunday, March 2, local outlets 25 News and Springfield News-Leader reported.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Fireworks, gas tanks and camping fuel in the truck's bed are believed to have been detonated using a device operated by the driver.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Meanwhile, an explosive device that did not detonate was discovered on a fourth bus, police said.
    Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Historic Fed Takeover Attempts Before getting into what presidents have done, start with the 1913 creation of the Federal Reserve by Congress through the Federal Reserve Act.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The trick, though, is that Finch and his associates along with Chanel’s team are the ones who do the inviting.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Security camera footage showed the two suspects entering the apartment building at about 4:24 p.m. Monday and going to the door of the apartment, then exiting from a rear staircase at approximately 4:30 p.m., according to the incident report.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Stansbury recorded a video shared on Instagram while exiting the Capitol elaborating on the succinct message of her sign.
    Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Finally in November of last year, another one popped up on TheRealReal.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Original Dallas cast members Larry Hagman (J.R. Ewing), Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing) and Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing), for example, initially popped into spinoff Knots Landing, which started out slow and ultimately ran for 14 seasons.
    Marc Berman, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Their suspicions ended up being warranted, as the ever-elusive rapper proceeded to delay the record for more than a year despite pre-orders, merch, and numerous festival appearances.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Strategic work can proceed in teams as organizations gain better reliability when moving from fire-response tactics to proactive risk mitigation.
    Sai Sandeep Ogety, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Go off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/go%20off. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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