1
as in wrong
falling short of a standard
the milk tasted off
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the computer is off, so you'll have to turn it on in order to use it
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3
as in erroneous
not being in agreement with what is true
that claim that everyone is actually related to everyone else seems a bit off
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4
as in small
small in degree
on the off chance that you do get straight A's, you can skip a grade
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5
as in spicy
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent
a telltale smirk suggested that there was something off about his parting shot
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as in to assassinate
to put to death deliberately
the hit man was rumored to have offed at least three people in the last year alone
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of off
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
With the midterm election still nearly a year off — and the 2028 presidential contest eons away — many of those angry or despondent over the benighted state of our union desperately wanted to do something to push back.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
Tarik Francis, Rutgers’ leading scorer, had an off night.
—Steve Stein, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Nathan Rott, NPR, 20 Nov. 2025
However, what's even more ingenious in setting them apart from other horror villains is how the killer offs their victims by using the rules of horror films against them.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off
Adverb
For cold-weather trips, the Columbia Women’s Moritza Boots are 30 percent off, delivering warm, walkable traction for cobblestone streets and snowy sidewalks.
—Adjective
Teams like the Minnesota Wild treat their employees to first class, and high-end dining with teammates at some of the finest restaurants across North America an off-day ritual.
—Verb
The equivalent of a soccer ball is enough to off a seal or dolphin.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for off
Adverb
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How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.—
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The second half was a different story, as the Bears defense cooled off Love, and Williams and the offense chipped away at the deficit.—
Adjective
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As analysis, that’s not wrong, but where’s the sting of it inside this bizarre bonbon of a musical?—
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Despite his brilliance and intellect, he was prevented from having a full life by being born on the wrong side of Israel’s separation fence.—
Adjective
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As the mercury plummets and back-to-work blues set in for much of humankind in the UK, many other creatures are cosily spending winter in a blissfully dormant state of hibernation.—
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Cornerbacks Kristian Fulton and Nohl Williams were among the Chiefs’ best players for a second consecutive week as both helped shut down a dormant Raiders pass game.—
Adjective
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Quick hits — Canales told reporters that the refs in the Panthers’ loss to the Bucs on Saturday never gave the Panthers the chance to replay a critical down after an erroneous whistle stopped it dead.—
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In Wiggins case, the court ruled the trial judge gave erroneous legal instructions to the jury.—
Adjective
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The founders argue that automation should be accessible to smaller operators, including neighborhood bars and private event spaces.—
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There can be 30 minutes of small waves before a sneaker wave strikes.—
Adjective
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Rye whiskey is the drier and spicier cousin of bourbon with an herbaceous edge, an edge which (as with the Sazerac, La Louisiane and others) is given a few dozen exclamation points with a dash of absinthe.—
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This creamy, cheesy pasta dish gets its extra spicy flavor from Andouille sausage, pepper Jack cheese, and Cajun seasoning.—
Verb
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The protests are only the latest problem facing Khamenei’s regime, which had much of its leadership assassinated by Israel during a twelve-day war last June.—
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Venezuelan authorities accused both men of plotting to destabilize the government and assassinate Maduro, allegations denied by Spanish officials and civil organizations, which said the two were traveling for tourism.—
Adverb
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Their drive extended when Jalen Hurts found Dallas Geodert to convert a fourth down for the third time on the day.—
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By the end of the year, the Gallup Economic Confidence Index, which measures views of the economy and its future, stood at a whopping negative 33, down nearly 20 points since spring.—
Cite this Entry
“Off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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