icebreaker
noun
ice·break·er
ˈīs-ˌbrā-kər 
1
: a ship equipped (as with a reinforced bow) to make and maintain a channel through ice
2
: something that is done or said to get through the first difficulties in starting a conversation or discussion
Roughly half of all Americans are invested in the market these days, and stock holdings have replaced politics, weather and sports as the go-to conversational icebreaker.—
Adam Bryant
Adam Bryant… she also pays particular attention to icebreakers that relax guests and get them rubbing elbows, such as a cruise up the Colorado River, where guests nibble on hors d'oeuvres and sip Fall Creek wines.—Steve Heimoff
see also break the ice at break entry 1
Steve HeimoffExamples of icebreaker in a Sentence
using an old joke as a conversational icebreaker
Recent Examples on the Web
Robb Report’s marine editor Michael Verdon voyaged to the North Pole on Ponant’s luxury icebreaker last year, in fact.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
The icebreaker asked attendees to facilitate a dialogue on the core inspirations and cultural lineages that molded their identities.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 14 Mar. 2024
Members of China's Arctic Ocean scientific expedition team aboard the polar icebreaker Xuelong 2 on Aug. 6.Wei Hongyi / Xinhua via Getty Images file
But Russia’s increasing economic and diplomatic isolation is forcing the Kremlin to change its approach, Strider found.
—Ken Dilanian, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2024
In 2020, despite Australian-Chinese tensions, the crew of a Chinese icebreaker in Antarctica rescued a sick Australian expeditioner.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
The bipartisan measure authorized $350 million for a new heavy icebreaker for the lakes.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
In 1979, the U.S. and Canadian coast guards had 20 icebreakers stationed throughout the Great Lakes.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
For decades, the report adds, Russia actively excluded China and other non-Arctic countries from playing a role there, including denying Chinese scientists the opportunity to conduct research and refusing to help China build icebreakers or share designs.
—Ken Dilanian, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2024
The masks were an enormous icebreaker: even men rarely caught on a dance floor seemed happy.
—Gloria Steinem, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2024
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
The icebreaker asked attendees to facilitate a dialogue on the core inspirations and cultural lineages that molded their identities.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 14 Mar. 2024
Members of China's Arctic Ocean scientific expedition team aboard the polar icebreaker Xuelong 2 on Aug. 6.Wei Hongyi / Xinhua via Getty Images file
But Russia’s increasing economic and diplomatic isolation is forcing the Kremlin to change its approach, Strider found.
—Ken Dilanian, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2024
In 2020, despite Australian-Chinese tensions, the crew of a Chinese icebreaker in Antarctica rescued a sick Australian expeditioner.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
The bipartisan measure authorized $350 million for a new heavy icebreaker for the lakes.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
In 1979, the U.S. and Canadian coast guards had 20 icebreakers stationed throughout the Great Lakes.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
For decades, the report adds, Russia actively excluded China and other non-Arctic countries from playing a role there, including denying Chinese scientists the opportunity to conduct research and refusing to help China build icebreakers or share designs.
—Ken Dilanian, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2024
The masks were an enormous icebreaker: even men rarely caught on a dance floor seemed happy.
—Gloria Steinem, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'icebreaker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near icebreaker
Cite this Entry
“Icebreaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/icebreaker. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
icebreaker
noun
ice·break·er
-ˌbrā-kər
1
: a ship equipped to make and keep open a channel through ice
2
: something (as a joke or game) that makes one feel more at ease and less reserved (as at a party or meeting)
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