1
as in distracts
to draw the attention or mind to something else
she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cancels
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of calls off
The president calls off plans to send the National Guard to San Francisco.
—
Christian Orozco, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
Christian Orozco, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calls off
Verb
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Or maybe a still-working phonograph of Edison’s invention distracts you, until a wall of portraits of 1920s electrical manufacturing workers pulls your gaze in a new direction.—
Michael Kilian,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Ultimately, this distracts from the struggles experienced by all those marginalized on the basis of gender.—
Jenna Norosky,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The three eventually work out their differences but not before Edgar turns Miles’s proto-smart-home devices against him, cancels his credit cards, and forges a criminal record for him.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
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Instead, teen boys are quietly swapping first dates, awkward silences, and emotional guesswork for an AI girlfriend who never cancels, never argues, and always texts back.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Using proprietary technology, such as its allocation engine, Debrand facilitates the management of unsellable inventory and returns—something the Canadian hub said diverts textile waste from landfills and promotes circularity in the fashion industry, as evidenced by the brand case studies.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Both charming decoration and functional solution, the rain chain diverts rainwater from the roof and gutters, transforming it into a beautiful water feature.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In California, anyone who abandons an elderly person under certain circumstances can be charged with a misdemeanor or possibly a felony.—
Alexiah Syrai Olsen,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
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In 1849 Melville switched to full-on fiction with a romance about an American sailor who abandons his whaling ship to explore the South Pacific.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Blue Light Isn’t Actually the Main Problem The popular explanation — that blue light suppresses melatonin and throws off your circadian clock — is real but incomplete.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
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What’s meant to feel relaxed and inviting often throws off the proportions and limits how the space can actually function.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The current proposal before the board scraps 800 jobs, but community pushback has delayed the decision.—
Natalie La Roche Pietri,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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But then Belly scraps her Parisian plans and pledges her young life to Jeremiah, a rising super senior at Finch majoring in getting high and going to Cabo (which, quite honestly, is more age-appropriate than a wedding).—
Vogue,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If the expansion detracts somehow from the SARA cult fever, the co-owners are OK with that.—
Senior Wine Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
15 June 2017
Verb
-
Jamie requests an audience with the families and revokes their letters of banishment.—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
-
If a court revokes citizenship on those grounds, the person could become subject to removal proceedings.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calls off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calls%20off. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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