CALLED OFF Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

called off

verb

past tense of call off

as in distracted

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 canceled

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 called off That wasn’t initially the case when this game was scheduled, but plans to play it as a nonconference neutral game in Brazil were called off, and the ACC’s decision to expand to a nine-game league slate means this one now counts. — Eddie Timanus, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 However, Bonta called off the meeting at the last minute accusing the studio of leaking information about their settlement discussions. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 In recent days, The New York Times reported Paramount and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading the charge against the tie-up, would begin preliminary settlement talks — which were then swiftly called off, according to the paper. — Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 The mission to save NASA’s sinking Swift Observatory has been called off, dooming the telescope to a fiery reentry later this year. — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 The mission to save NASA's sinking Swift Observatory was called off Wednesday, dooming the telescope to a fiery reentry later this year. — CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 The tour previously called off a June tourney in New Orleans. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The White House called off attacks against Iran due to concerns about troop defense given the depletion of interceptor stocks, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported. — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2026 The couple called off their engagement in 2018, and Mozzi and Beatrice started dating that same year. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for called off

Verb

You’re not distracted by the clients waiting behind you or the sense that someone is watching and waiting for your chair to open up.

— Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
If it is blocked, both studios could emerge from the litigation having spent a year distracted and constrained while the rest of the industry moved forward.

— Cory Jacobson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of distracted

Verb

If the league and union can’t agree on a new contract by some time in March, some regular-season games likely would be canceled.

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
South Korean officials said this week that a second exercise, for amphibious landings scheduled for September, was canceled in June.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of canceled

Verb

The race was supposed to be held every year for the next 10 years, but the 2003 event was scrapped after organizers failed to fix the noise problems and ran into other operational issues.

— Stefan Becket, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
The move meant performances from Don Toliver, Tems, Sombr, and Clairo were scrapped, but new additions to the lineup included Kali Uchis, Blood Orange, Geese, and Fakemink.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrapped

Verb

Citing what an administrative law judge called egregious conduct, the DEA last month revoked Rubinger’s ability to prescribe opioids.

— Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Jackson discharged its last patient to Calvinelle South in November 2025, hospital records show — eight months after a state administrative law judge wrote an order recommending the home’s license be revoked.

— Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of revoked

Verb

Infantino has come under increasing pressure to step down over his plan, now aborted, to sell stakes in soccer’s biggest tournament, the World Cup, to private equity investors.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
The company aborted a Thursday attempt after running the countdown clock to under 30 seconds.

— Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of aborted

Verb

But the immunizations considered for repeal by DOH are only an agency rule, not in state law, and can be repealed by the agency itself.

— CBS News, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Other vaccine requirements, such as for measles, polio and mumps, are in state statute and would require the Legislature’s sign-off to be repealed.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026