1
as in stops
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ends
to come to an end
talks between the two sides broke off when one began making unreasonable demands
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 breaks off
Mahama breaks off in exasperation.
—
Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The scene where ‘80s teen Marty McFly borrows a scooter from a bewildered ‘50s kid and breaks off the handles to make a skateboard is one of the film’s most iconic moments.
—Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Second, the flowing glacier brings more ice forward to replace what breaks off, slowing the cliff’s inland retreat and making a chain reaction of cliff toppling less likely.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks off
Verb
-
The team that stops the run and mitigates mistakes will win this one.—
-
The group stops to talk to one who took a fall while riding his bike in his neighborhood.—
Verb
-
If the state ends HHAP, the county hopes to find other sources of revenue to fund the shelters and other homeless programs, either from the general fund or elsewhere, said Kim Nava, a county spokesperson.—
-
Other signs of unseasoned wood are bark that is tightly attached and a wet, fresh-looking center with lighter and drier looking wood near the edges or ends.—
Verb
-
From December through February, shuttle service largely ceases (outside of select days and weekends; check shuttle schedules for up-to-date details).—
-
Plenty of literary audio has been made in the more than eight years since S-Town, but the writer language used to talk about podcasting ceases to exist outside the editing room.—
Verb
-
Both are widely respected, but Sky News has been loss-making for years and its current funding guarantee from Comcast — one of the stipulations of the 2018 deal — expires in 2028.—
-
The current deal expires on May 1, 2026.—
Verb
-
The order temporarily halts enforcement of the law on cruise ships while the appeals process moves forward, her email noted.—
-
Judge halts end of deportation protections for South Sudanese.—
Verb
-
That concludes today’s newsletter.—
-
Per the civil suit, the first group would automatically receive payments within 90 days, while the second group will need to complete a form once the initial payout period concludes.—
Verb
-
Many girls and women have turned to online education being offered by organizations in other countries, but the nationwide blackout now cuts off their access to that, too.—
-
For males, this means a vasectomy, which is a surgical procedure that cuts off the supply of sperm to the semen.—
Verb
-
The play had Gwath inbounding on the far sideline to BJ Davis, who passes to Miles Byrd at the top of the key.—
-
The morning drive host on 680 The Fan caught passes from Ryan for three years.—
Cite this Entry
“Breaks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20off. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share