English verb: put off | |||
1. | put off (stative) hold back to a later time | ||
Samples | Let's postpone the exam. | ||
Synonyms | defer, hold over, postpone, prorogue, put over, remit, set back, shelve, table | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s something PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | delay | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | call, hold, probate, reprieve, respite, suspend | ||
Entail | call off, cancel, reschedule, scratch, scrub | ||
2. | put off (emotion) cause to feel intense dislike or distaste | ||
Examples | The performance is likely to put off Sue | ||
Synonyms | turn off | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | repel, repulse | ||
3. | put off (emotion) take away the enthusiasm of | ||
Examples | The performance is likely to put off Sue | ||
Synonyms | dishearten | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | discourage | ||
Antonyms | cheer, embolden, hearten, recreate | ||
4. | put off (emotion) cause to feel embarrassment | ||
Samples | The constant attention of the young man confused her. | ||
Examples | The bad news will put off him | ||
Synonyms | confuse, disconcert, flurry | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | abash, embarrass | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | bother, deflect, distract, fluster | ||
Verb group | bedevil, befuddle, confound, confuse, discombobulate, fox, fuddle, throw | ||
5. | put off (communication) avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues) | ||
Samples | He dodged the issue. She skirted the problem. They tend to evade their responsibilities. He evaded the questions skillfully. | ||
Synonyms | circumvent, dodge, duck, elude, evade, fudge, hedge, parry, sidestep, skirt | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | avoid | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | beg, quibble | ||