CALLING OFF Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

calling off 1 of 2

noun

as in repeal

the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to the calling off of the senior prom is not going to go over well

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

calling off

2 of 2

verb

present participle of call off

as in distracting

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in canceling

to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it

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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 calling off

Verb

An emergency meeting with top government officials on Monday confirmed PSG-Barcelona and other soccer games in European competitions can go ahead after the possibility of calling off games and other big events was discussed. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 In another snippet of internal dispatcher audio, an operator can be heard calling off the emergency response. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 As his son Charles recounts in Swan Song, when Diana considered calling off her wedding to Prince Charles after suffering various snubs from the heir to the throne, Count Spencer flatly rejected his youngest daughter’s idea. — Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026 Incredibly, SpaceX seemed unsure as to whether to push ahead to orbit, calling off that part of the test for a brief moment before deciding to go for orbit minutes later. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2026 The Central Park Conservancy, which operates the park, agreed calling off the concert was the right move. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026 For the United States, that means encouraging reform, including human rights protections, and calling off the bargain that has allowed autocratic allies to get away with grievous repression. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Citing unnamed sources, the Post reported that the shortfall of key weapons contributed to Trump calling off major strikes on Iran and making another push for diplomacy. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 7 Aug. 2026 After previously calling off an engagement, BelléJolie Force is a singer who is searching for her Prince Charming. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling off

Noun

Dispute over retroactive repeal The challenge also centers on the General Assembly’s subsequent repeal of the posting requirement.

— Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
A number of women explain potential solutions to the problems outlined in the film, like the repeal of Section 230 or social media companies reporting to a nonpartisan regulator.

— Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of repeal

Verb

As a result, your mind is always searching for the next project to tackle or problem to solve, distracting you while hanging out with family or keeping you from sleeping.

— Melody Wilding, Contributor, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
The compelling series achieves a provocative dissection of it all with rare confidence without the overindulgence of distracting CGI tossed in for sheer spectacle.

— Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of distracting

Verb

No one could’ve blamed the grieving community for canceling the game.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2026
Hours earlier, the 77-year-old wrestling Hall of Famer apologized on social media site X for canceling a weekend appearance at the Washington State Horror Con in Puyallup.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of canceling

Noun

Airport attacks in the capital city of Riyadh led to multiple fatalities, flight cancellations and property damage, while facilities belonging to oil giant Saudi Aramco were targeted last week.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
High tides over the summer resulted in train cancellations and emergency repairs to the rail line.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of cancellation

Verb

At the time, RTCM said the deal would expand its capacity and support a goal of diverting 100 million pounds of textiles from landfills annually.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
The transfers have allowed the Senate GOP group to support Paxton without diverting resources away from Republicans in other competitive races across the country.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of diverting

Verb

The protestors accuse Kumar of abandoning his constitutional obligation to act impartially.

— Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Schottenheimer has faced questions throughout the week around the offense handling pressure, abandoning the run early in games, not finding explosive plays and more.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of abandoning

Noun

This—along with the callous abandonment of trans rights by Democratic politicians from Gavin Newsom in California to James Talarico in Texas—will hurt the Democrats’ ability to turn out would-be voters on the left, especially among the young.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2026
Sure, Thomas is juggling abandonment issues, a ton of recent trauma, and a ghost in his head only Vision believes in.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of abandonment

Verb

And for a quarterback whose superpower involves shuffling through collapsing pockets, scrambling through squalor, throwing off any and every platform — such a question was warranted.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
So why did Netflix, which is still throwing off a good chunk of change, this week lay off around 1,000 employees — its biggest cutback to date?

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026