1
as in to disband
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization
the band broke up when their arguments over money grew too stressful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to come to an end
the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to divide
to set or force apart
he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to crack
to yield to mental or emotional stress
the sort of person who would be among the first to break up in a prisoner of war camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to cease
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
if you break up during the skit, the audience will know that you're in on the joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in split
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces
the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism pretty much signaled the end of the Cold War
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 break up
Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2026
Topography and shifting climates had broken up these populations into different habitats, allowing each to evolve into distinct species.
—Torben Rick, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
Brent Lang, Variety, 12 June 2026
Everything after this song spirals into the eventual breakup.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
The buses will leave for the stadium earlier, timed for arrival as soon as FIFA will allow the gates to open, to help break up the clutter.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2026
Topography and shifting climates had broken up these populations into different habitats, allowing each to evolve into distinct species.
—Torben Rick, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
Noun
Each film will center on a different member of the Beatles’ point of view, intersecting to capture the band’s improbable journey from Liverpool to the center of global culture, culminating in their 1970 breakup.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 12 June 2026
Everything after this song spirals into the eventual breakup.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
-
This group, along with a number of others dedicated to examining and addressing inequities in the military, has been disbanded.—
Clint Smith,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
-
By 2021, the Afghanistan Football Federation had disbanded the women’s team, and many of the country’s best female soccer players, including Popal, had fled the country.—
Time,
Time,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Dallas Cowboys fans can stop wondering if George Pickens will be the latest holdout or hold in for the franchise because on Tuesday, the receiver cleared the air by reporting to mandatory minicamp.—
Briana Aldridge,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
This often meant that European nations recruited talented footballers from their former colonies to stop them from playing elsewhere.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The proposal also has divided politicians within the Democratic Party.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Support for Ukraine has divided the GOP for years.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
The former cracked the top 10 on Spain's radio airplay chart.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
And not one property owner has participated in a pilot program requiring landlords to give current tenants first crack at purchasing multifamily buildings.—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
These changes come just one month after Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased all operations, leaving its nine gates at DTW idle.—
Christina Zhang,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Kraken, one of the oldest crypto exchanges in the global industry, is ceasing on World Cup fever and drawing parallels between soccer fans and ‘hodlers’ in their promotions.—
Cleve Mesidor,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
And of how Iran’s preparation for this World Cup has been disrupted, this is definitely among the more minor.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
In their letter, the senators cited the approaching El Niño — a periodic Pacific warming that disrupts weather patterns and supercharges marine heat waves — as evidence the cuts are particularly ill timed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Parts of the ad featured realistic-looking footage of Massie walking, dining, and laughing with the two.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2026
-
The High Museum of Art is also hosting a Juneteenth event for visitors to tour the art galleries, make art of their own, listen to stories and poetry, laugh with comedians and dance during a Tambor Party.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
All cheerleaders must be flexible and able to perform the splits by the start of the season.—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
20 June 2026
-
However, the game — which was played on a dreadful pitch in front of almost 115,000 people at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City — will forever be remembered for Maradona’s two goals that perfectly encapsulated the split-screen feel to his career.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
