clean break
noun
: complete separation from something
When he left home, he made a clean break with the past.
Examples of clean break in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Within the leftist movement that propelled Johnson, cracks between the Chicago Teachers Union and Service Employees International Union team that primarily bankrolled his first run look more like a clean break.
—
Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
William would prefer a swift, clean break with Andrew before things decline further.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
New paradigm — That’s a clean break from the current way of doing things.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
At one point, Egor Chinakhov had a clean break in off the right wing that Korpisalo stopped and then absorbed Chinakhov crashing into him.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Eduardo Gamarra, a professor of politics and international relations at Florida International University, said the Trump administration may have opted for stability over a clean break from the past.
—Ted Scouten, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Plus, even though the money was surely a factor, there's a chance the Rangers simply want a clean break from García, though there's no obvious top prospect ready to take his spot on the roster.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
But whatever is happening inside Chris’s head, the rest of the world doesn’t want to give him a clean break.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Ending Xi’s leverage will require a full, clean break between TikTok and ByteDance, severing partnerships between the app and its former parent.
—Emily Baker-White, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
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Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
William would prefer a swift, clean break with Andrew before things decline further.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
New paradigm — That’s a clean break from the current way of doing things.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
At one point, Egor Chinakhov had a clean break in off the right wing that Korpisalo stopped and then absorbed Chinakhov crashing into him.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Eduardo Gamarra, a professor of politics and international relations at Florida International University, said the Trump administration may have opted for stability over a clean break from the past.
—Ted Scouten, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Plus, even though the money was surely a factor, there's a chance the Rangers simply want a clean break from García, though there's no obvious top prospect ready to take his spot on the roster.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
But whatever is happening inside Chris’s head, the rest of the world doesn’t want to give him a clean break.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Ending Xi’s leverage will require a full, clean break between TikTok and ByteDance, severing partnerships between the app and its former parent.
—Emily Baker-White, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clean break.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clean%20break. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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