1
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to end
to come to an end
talks between the two sides broke off when one began making unreasonable demands
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of break off
It’s propagated when its pieces are naturally broken off by wind or animals feathering nests.
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Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2024
Natt, who left the complex in July and now lives across the country, said there were other issues as well — kitchen appliances short-circuiting, a freezer handle breaking off, garage doors being broken.
—Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024
The asteroid's rapid rotation period of less than one hour aligns with what scientists would expect from either a large boulder ejected from the Moon's surface or a fragment broken off from a larger lunar object.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
Saints running back Alvin Kamara rushed for 112 yards but the Rams prevented him from breaking off long scoring runs as Barkley did.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break off 
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2024
Natt, who left the complex in July and now lives across the country, said there were other issues as well — kitchen appliances short-circuiting, a freezer handle breaking off, garage doors being broken.
—Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024
The asteroid's rapid rotation period of less than one hour aligns with what scientists would expect from either a large boulder ejected from the Moon's surface or a fragment broken off from a larger lunar object.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
Saints running back Alvin Kamara rushed for 112 yards but the Rams prevented him from breaking off long scoring runs as Barkley did.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
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An elevator stops on all four floors, and as designed, there will be three and potentially four bedrooms and a total of four bathrooms, plus a powder room just inside the front door.Mark David, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2024
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Some Broad Ripple Starbucks lovers woke up to a surprise Thursday morning while stopping to grab a cup of Joe.Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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So, out of the 24, how did those teams end their seasons?Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024
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Before ending his bid, Gaetz’s odds never reached the 11%-12% bottom that Hegseth saw last week.Peter Cordi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The technical psychiatry and neurobiology of later times necessarily lacked Valéry’s poetry, and the poets themselves could never make good on his scientism without ceasing to write poetry.Benjamin Kunkel, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
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Last week, a panel of three judges upheld the law's constitutionality, leaving TikTok and ByteDance warning that the app could cease operations in the U.S. as soon as Jan. 19, 2025, if the decision stands.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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After that expired, the Rangers signed him to a two-year deal.Sam Blum, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024
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The biggest offender is McAfee, which will nag you repeatedly after the short trial expires.Jason Evangelho, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The figure falls short of filming in the region when the industry was halted by strikes from actors and writers.Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
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Corcoran's attorneys then asked the U.S. Supreme Court issue an emergency order halting his execution, but the high court denied their request for a stay late Tuesday, ending Corcoran's options with the courts.CBS News, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Research by the Korn Ferry Institute concluded that Springboard entrepreneurs possess agile learning skills that distinguish them from successful corporate executives.Geri Stengel, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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Denver District Judge David Goldberg concluded in a ruling issued Monday that Douglas County didn’t have standing to bring the action against the state.John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Chrystia Freeland quit on Monday after Trudeau offered her a lesser position.David Ljunggren, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
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After 10 years as a Ram and in the NFL, Donald called his career quits this past offseason.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Mangione had cut off contact with family and friends for six months prior to the killing, and his mother filed a missing person report with the San Francisco Police Department in November.Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
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The deal permitted it to keep doing business with Medicare, despite a law mandating that criminal pharma firms be cut off.Bob Fernandez, ProPublica, 17 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near break off
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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