breaking ball

noun

baseball

: a pitch that curves

The pitcher threw a breaking ball.

Examples of breaking ball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lord has natural ability to spin the baseball, and has gone from throwing a high-spin slurvy breaking ball to showing a more distinct slider and curveball. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026

There’s a no-doubt starter in here — above-average fastball, plus changeup, throws strikes, and enough breaking ball that is at least a fourth starter. — Keith Law, New York Times, 7 July 2026

The second swing was more of an off-balanced flail, the telltale sign of being fooled by a breaking ball. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 June 2026

Pinch-hitter Jose Tabata fouled off a pair of 2-2 pitches before Scherzer clipped him on the elbow with a breaking ball. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026

Rhymes for breaking ball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol