write off

verb

Definition of write offnext
1
as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of most critics have already written off that director as a hack incapable of turning out anything but schlock

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reduce
to diminish the price or value of that one blunder will write off to nothing all the goodwill we've been building up

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 write off Some investors wrote off the growing chorus of concern around AI, saying the doomsday talk is a political tactic to encourage government regulation. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026 Eventually, the firms dumped the valuable slag into waste piles and wrote off the metals inside. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026 No one is writing off the Eagles, but some concerns shouldn’t be ignored. — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Goldenrod Originally written off as a weed, goldenrod is now beloved by many gardeners for its hardiness and colorful blooms. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for write off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for write off
  1. dismiss
  2. reduce
  3. minimize
  4. write down
  5. diminish
  6. dump on
  7. run down
  8. play down
Verb
  • The stance has seen Newsom, who warns the passage of Prop 40 could see an exodus of the super rich from California, mocked and dismissed by fellow Democrats.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The complaint was ultimately dismissed, and Iowa's Republican leaders celebrated the ruling.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismiss
Verb
  • Sullivan touted his Bycatch Reduction Act, a bill intended to reduce excess fish caught by large commercial trawlers.
    — Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Energy-absorbing seats are designed to manage forces transmitted to occupants during an impact, potentially reducing injury risks.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • Department leaders are evaluating how to best deploy resources for different emergencies and minimize disruptions.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Research actually shows that having depression can more than double your risk for dementia, so don’t minimize it, Tucker says.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of minimize
Verb
  • That requires writing down what the role needs before anyone’s name is attached to it.
    — Christina Greenberg, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Such a promise needs to be written down, with a way for employees to challenge a broken commitment.
    — Christoph Trattner, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of write down
Verb
  • The National Weather Service said rainfall was diminishing in the area but that rapid river rises and flooding remained possible.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The culture surrounding the use of alcohol has diminished in younger generations, at least anecdotally, Haddock said.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • Lawson was found dead, dumped on the southbound Route 295 entrance ramp from the Westport neighborhood, in January 2022.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 11 June 2026
  • There people everywhere, emotional support dogs taking dumps on the floor, and everything.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
Definition of dump on
Verb
  • Blair had tears running down her face, while her team worked to explain what happened.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a marshy creek that runs down the west side of the property, and that creekbottom transitions to a 100-yard-wide stretch of hardwoods that border a hayfield.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of run down
Verb
  • The president of the European Central Bank played down speculation about intervention in France’s ballooning budget crisis on Wednesday.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Russia's government played down concerns Monday sparked by media reports that a female scientist in Siberia might have died of exposure to the plague after a lab accident.
    — Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of play down

Browse Nearby Words

write-ins
write off
writer
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Cite this Entry

“Write off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/write%20off. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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