turnoff
1 of 2noun
turn·off ˈtərn-ˌȯf 
1
: a place where one turns off
especially : exit sense 4
2
: one that causes loss of interest or enthusiasm
the music was a turnoff
3
: a turning off
turn off
2 of 2verb
turned off; turning off; turns off
transitive verb
1
: to stop the flow of or shut off by or as if by turning a control
turn the water off
2
: to cause to lose interest : bore
economics turns me off
also : to evoke a negative feeling in
3
a
: dismiss, discharge
b
: to dispose of : sell
4
: deflect, evade
5
: produce, accomplish
6
: hang sense 1b
7
a
: to remove (material) by the process of turning
b
: to shape or produce by turning
intransitive verb
1
: to deviate from a straight course or from a main road
turn off into a side road
2
a
British : to turn bad : spoil
b
: to change to a specified state : become
3
: to lose interest : withdraw
Synonyms
Verb
- disgust
- gross out
- nauseate
- put off
- repel
- repulse
- revolt
- sicken
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun His strong cologne was a real turnoff. Verb that memorably bad meal turned me off about restaurant food for a while turn off at the third exit and follow the ramp to your left
Recent Examples on the Web
Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 Another possible turnoff is that Broadcom has a lot of leverage, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.88, hardly ruinous but high. Larry Light, Fortune, 14 July 2022 These days, what used to be admired as renegade, out-of-the-box leadership by ultrarich industry titans looks out of touch — and is a turnoff for consumers, says Mario Natarelli, managing partner at branding agency MBLM. Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 July 2022 Perfume scents and pebbly textures can be a turnoff to some cats. Ali Kessler, Good Housekeeping, 29 June 2022 These questions can be a major turnoff to candidates, especially senior ones. Tigran Sloyan, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2021 Strong winds sent embers across U.S. Route 89, the main route to the turnoff for the Grand Canyon’s east rim entrance, through the Navajo Nation and up into Utah. Felicia Fonseca, Anchorage Daily News, 14 June 2022 New research reveals that linking diversity to corporate profits may be a turnoff for the underrepresented individuals the organizations are trying to attract. Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 20 June 2022 The sector’s high valuations are considered a turnoff in a risk-off market. Dan Gallagher, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022 Jill Lawless, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 She was known as a monarch who took care to turn off lights in empty rooms, a country woman who didn’t flinch from strangling pheasants. Danica Kirka, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 The agency’s shift in tone didn’t surprise San Diego County Water Authority officials, who expressed little if any concern the federal government could abruptly turn off the spigot. Joshua Emerson Smith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 When that happens, digital companies are often the first to be hit since marketers can turn off spending in real time. Suzanne Vranica, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2022 This pick offers a mute button (press and hold the 8 for five seconds) to turn off beeps and alerts when the cooking time ends. Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 8 July 2022 In their letter, Mike and Kristen Groseclose explained that Jack was taking a drug to turn off the gene. New York Times, 6 July 2022 To turn off the blue color scheme, pick from any of the theme options here. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 5 July 2022 Tap on the Shut Down option Glide the slide to the right side to turn off your phone. Toby Grey, BGR, 22 May 2022 See More
Noun
The inventory backlog can be a turnoff for shoppers, said Neil Saunders, retail analyst and managing director at GlobalData Retail. Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 Another possible turnoff is that Broadcom has a lot of leverage, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.88, hardly ruinous but high. Larry Light, Fortune, 14 July 2022 These days, what used to be admired as renegade, out-of-the-box leadership by ultrarich industry titans looks out of touch — and is a turnoff for consumers, says Mario Natarelli, managing partner at branding agency MBLM. Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 July 2022 Perfume scents and pebbly textures can be a turnoff to some cats. Ali Kessler, Good Housekeeping, 29 June 2022 These questions can be a major turnoff to candidates, especially senior ones. Tigran Sloyan, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2021 Strong winds sent embers across U.S. Route 89, the main route to the turnoff for the Grand Canyon’s east rim entrance, through the Navajo Nation and up into Utah. Felicia Fonseca, Anchorage Daily News, 14 June 2022 New research reveals that linking diversity to corporate profits may be a turnoff for the underrepresented individuals the organizations are trying to attract. Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 20 June 2022 The sector’s high valuations are considered a turnoff in a risk-off market. Dan Gallagher, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022 Verb
She was known as a monarch who took care to turn off lights in empty rooms, a country woman who didn’t flinch from strangling pheasants. Jill Lawless, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 She was known as a monarch who took care to turn off lights in empty rooms, a country woman who didn’t flinch from strangling pheasants. Danica Kirka, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 The agency’s shift in tone didn’t surprise San Diego County Water Authority officials, who expressed little if any concern the federal government could abruptly turn off the spigot. Joshua Emerson Smith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 When that happens, digital companies are often the first to be hit since marketers can turn off spending in real time. Suzanne Vranica, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2022 This pick offers a mute button (press and hold the 8 for five seconds) to turn off beeps and alerts when the cooking time ends. Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 8 July 2022 In their letter, Mike and Kristen Groseclose explained that Jack was taking a drug to turn off the gene. New York Times, 6 July 2022 To turn off the blue color scheme, pick from any of the theme options here. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 5 July 2022 Tap on the Shut Down option Glide the slide to the right side to turn off your phone. Toby Grey, BGR, 22 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
circa 1852, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Verb
1564, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3a
turning off
verb
1
as in disgusting
to cause to feel disgust that memorably bad meal turned me off about restaurant food for a while Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- disgusting
- sickening
- appalling
- grossing out
- turning one's stomach
- repulsing
- putting off
- horrifying
- nauseating
- revolting
- distressing
- repelling
- insulting
- shocking
- displeasing
- disquieting
- outraging
- offending
- affronting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pulling
- attracting
- charming
- drawing
- fascinating
- captivating
- tempting
- enticing
- luring
- seducing
- disarming
- bewitching
- enchanting
- appealing (to)
- alluring
- gratifying
- pleasing
- rejoicing
- tickling
- delighting
- interesting
- beguiling
- intriguing
- entrancing
- enthralling
- enrapturing
2
as in deviating
to change one's course or direction turn off at the third exit and follow the ramp to your left Synonyms & Similar Words
- deviating
- turning
- swinging
- veering
- diverging
- turning back
- detouring
- sheering
- swerving
- wheeling
- zigzagging
- tacking
- doubling (back)
3
as in sacking
to let go from office, service, or employment eventually, the supervisor turned off the insubordinate employee Synonyms & Similar Words
- sacking
- removing
- dismissing
- mustering out
- firing
- retiring
- releasing
- laying off
- sending packing
- showing (someone) the door
- terminating
- kicking out
- canning
- axing
- discharging
- pink-slipping
- cashiering
- bouncing
- throwing out
- booting (out)
- chucking (out)
- drumming (out)
- downsizing
- excessing
- trimming
- furloughing
- unseating
- separating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- signing (up or on)
- taking on
- employing
- hiring
- retaining
- engaging
- keeping
- reemploying
- rehiring
- contracting
- subcontracting
- recruiting
- re-employing
4
as in shutting off
to cause to stop functioning please turn off the fan when you're done Synonyms & Similar Words
- shutting off
- killing
- braking
- phasing out
- deactivating
- cutting off
- flicking (off)
- sticking
- drawing up
- dismantling
- jamming
- mothballing
- stalling
- halting
- arresting
- chocking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- turning on
- moving
- starting
- cranking (up)
- driving
- running
- triggering
- touching off
- activating
- setting off
- actuating
- generating
- pushing
- propelling
- sparking
- charging
- firing
- fueling
- powering
- energizing
- switching
- launching
- releasing
- discharging
- tripping
- fuelling
- electrifying
- recharging
- reactivating