Thesaurus results for BREAK IN

break in 1 of 2

verb

Definition of break in

as in to invade

to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent the burglars broke in by smashing a window

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to interrupt

to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met

Synonyms & Similar Words

break-in

2 of 2

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 in

Verb

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated Moscow's demand for a comprehensive peace deal, not a temporary break in hostilities, following Ukraine's call for a complete and unconditional ceasefire. — Hanna Arhirova, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026 Now, traders are assessing what the moves mean for a swath of assets and wondering whether yields’ rapid climb is an omen that something could break in the market. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Noun

Flynn, 40, is accused of fatally shooting his wife, beloved volleyball coach Ashley Flynn, 37, in their Tipp City, Ohio, home in February and staging the scene to look like a break-in. — Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026 During a bizarre San Diego break-in, a golden retriever who lives at the home begged the prowler to play. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for break in

Recent Examples of Synonyms for break in

Verb

For instance, did the Soviets invade Afghanistan out of (a) fear of Muslim insurgency, (b) Iran-cognizant Realpolitik or (c) lust for a port on the Persian Gulf?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
The plan at the center of the 2022 WWII movie Operation Mincemeat is to mislead the Axis forces into believing that the Allies will invade Greece rather than Sicily.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of invade

Noun

Licensed firearms dealers in Maryland must notify state officials of crimes that occurred at their business, including thefts and burglaries, within 24 hours or face potential fines.

— Liam Bowman, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
All six have been indicted in Nebraska in the ATM operation and face other charges that include providing material support to Tren de Aragua, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and money-laundering conspiracy.

— Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of burglary

Verb

Knowing his days are numbered, Vince robs banks to provide for his wife and young child.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
The paint was soon being mass-produced in Europe, inspiring shady dealings that even included outright grave robbing to acquire as many mummies as possible.

— Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 29, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of rob

Verb

Those crews, Coles said, were one of the casualties from a swath of federal budget cuts in the 1980s.

— Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
The majority of the layoffs on the studios side were within Pixar and majority of cuts in the TV group were at National Geographic.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of cut in

Noun

Service learned the holdup was due to the site in question also being considered a homeless encampment.

— Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Lee was convicted of fatally shooting Jimmy Ellis, 53, and Elaine Thompson, 44, during a pawn shop holdup in 1998 in Orrville, about 60 miles west of Montgomery.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of holdup

Noun

Trump’s Arch will commemorate his overnight mugging of Venezuela and his colossal misadventures in Iran.

— Letters to the Editor, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026
It’s been 14 years since that mugging, and I haven’t been robbed since, despite traveling to more than 60 countries and moving to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

— Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of mugging

Browse Nearby Words

breakfronts

break in

break-in

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Style

“Break in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20in. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of break in

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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