1
as in disgusting
to cause to feel disgust
that memorably bad meal turned me off about restaurant food for a while
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deviating
to change one's course or direction
turn off at the third exit and follow the ramp to your left
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in removing
to let go from office, service, or employment
eventually, the supervisor turned off the insubordinate employee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in shutting off
to cause to stop functioning
please turn off the fan when you're done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of turning off
Security experts recommend turning off exterior lights overnight, but there are myriad reasons for wanting a light outside your home.
—
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
Perhaps turning off the replies would have been the move, although that also would have drawn attention.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Texas teacher’s arrest exposes holes in do-not-hire checks An Elgin middle school teacher accused of molesting an eighth grader had previously resigned from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department after giving a shirtless youth a skin-to-skin back rub and turning off his body camera.
—Jj Velasquez, San Antonio Express-News, 10 May 2026
By turning off the gene, called ANGPTL3, blood lipid levels should fall.
—David Cox, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
Unsafe practices can include turning off the automatic tracking system that transmits the vessel's location to other ships.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
But in this case, one woman claimed her cat was turning off her alarm.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Try turning off your ad blocker.
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
Smith says nine Iranian oil tankers have traveled through the Strait of Hormuz by turning off transponders that reveal locations.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
Perhaps turning off the replies would have been the move, although that also would have drawn attention.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Texas teacher’s arrest exposes holes in do-not-hire checks An Elgin middle school teacher accused of molesting an eighth grader had previously resigned from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department after giving a shirtless youth a skin-to-skin back rub and turning off his body camera.
—Jj Velasquez, San Antonio Express-News, 10 May 2026
By turning off the gene, called ANGPTL3, blood lipid levels should fall.
—David Cox, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
Unsafe practices can include turning off the automatic tracking system that transmits the vessel's location to other ships.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
But in this case, one woman claimed her cat was turning off her alarm.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Try turning off your ad blocker.
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
Smith says nine Iranian oil tankers have traveled through the Strait of Hormuz by turning off transponders that reveal locations.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning off
Verb
-
The consequences of disgusting one’s wife, whether or not one agrees with her premise, could be enormous.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Discharge Papers • Aw, The Pitt is back and happy to be disgusting again!—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Charles Melton sweetly dedicated an award to his wife and newborn daughter, deviating from his famously private nature.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
-
However, it was criticized by pacifists at home and China for deviating from Japan’s postwar self-defense only principle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Armorer says that after removing his helmet, he can only be redeemed by bathing in the Living Waters on Mandalore.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
Georgia governor has signed a bill that expands the state’s medical cannabis program, easing access to cannabis vapes and removing the THC potency cap.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Tehran cemented its grip on the Strait of Hormuz; a few more tankers managed to pass through in the last few days, albeit only by either negotiating in advance with Iran, or by shutting off their transponders and racing through.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
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Don’t try to handle a squatter yourself by changing locks, hauling out belongings or shutting off utilities — Texas law treats that as a self-help eviction and can backfire if the person turns out to have tenant rights, making court eviction the required route in landlord-tenant cases.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The young Forster recoiled from the school’s culture of authoritarianism and militaristic chauvinism, which may have found expression in the students’ often appalling attitudes toward their own mothers.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The roughly 4,800-square-foot home is wrapped in expansive windows overlooking the lake and mountains beyond, turning the landscape into a constantly changing backdrop.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
13 May 2026
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Another way to decorate your privacy fence is by turning it into a full-on plant wall.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
13 May 2026
Verb
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But so far the government has decided not to intervene by sacking him and backpedalling on allowing Russia to participate.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
6 May 2026
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Any hope that Liam Rosenior’s sacking 12 days ago would spark an upturn, especially after their FA Cup semi-final victory over Leeds United, have been brought back to reality.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Is God Is is a story about twin sisters Racine (Kara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson), tasked with killing their abusive, absentee father at the request of their mother.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
19 May 2026
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Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turning off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20off. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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