Synonyms of broken
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as in shattered 
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as in jagged
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as in uneven
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as in fractured
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as in stopped
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as in demoted
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as in deciphered
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as in paused
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as in plowed
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as in violated
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as in solved
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as in damaged
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as in stalled
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as in bolted
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as in worn
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as in spread
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as in ruined
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as in originated
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as in veered
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as in reduced
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as in exceeded
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as in emerged
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Example Sentences
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Entries Near
1
as in shattered
forcibly separated into many pieces
a broken vase that could not be repaired
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2
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline
the broken rim of the antique vase greatly reduces its value
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3
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
that portion of the hiking trail consists of a long, broken mountain ridge
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1
as in fractured
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
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2
as in stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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3
as in demoted
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
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4
as in deciphered
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
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5
as in paused
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
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6
as in plowed
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows
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7
as in violated
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
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8
as in solved
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
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9
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in stalled
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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11
as in bolted
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
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12
as in worn
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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13
as in spread
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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14
as in ruined
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
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15
as in originated
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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16
as in veered
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
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17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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18
as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of broken
Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Even though Delta, United, and American charge similar amounts, Southwest's fee will feel worse because of the broken expectation.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
When the pot was broken, the gifts would spill out, acting as an offering to Huitzilopochtli.
—Monica Navarro, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for broken
Adjective
He’s elevated his game each year in the league and is now one of the game’s elite edge rushers — on a torrid pace before a broken leg ended a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber start.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Even though Delta, United, and American charge similar amounts, Southwest's fee will feel worse because of the broken expectation.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Verb
Buffalo’s season is all but over, and the team has looked broken.
—Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
When the pot was broken, the gifts would spill out, acting as an offering to Huitzilopochtli.
—Monica Navarro, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for broken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
Adjective
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The thunder rolled and lightning danced among the jagged peaks as a summer rainstorm soaked the alpine meadows of California’s Sierra Nevada.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2025
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In addition to more glaciers (circa 300) than any other national park in the Lower 48 states, North Cascades boasts dozens of jagged snowy peaks, wild rivers, tranquil lakes, and among the highest biodiversity of any U.S. park.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Bread crumbs • Props to the hair, makeup, and costuming departments for differentiating Kiki’s Simone from pre-Michaela Simone, who showed up to the island with a scraggly ponytail, a gray button-down, uneven skin, and scrawled tattoos.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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Read Next Boise & Garden City Boise River Greenbelt biker dies from head injuries after crashing on uneven pathway September 6, 2024 4:00 AM This story was originally published September 24, 2024 at 4:00 AM.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2025
Verb
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When Millie Gooch stopped drinking at age 26, her friends had a hard time wrapping their heads around it.—
Malaka Gharib,
NPR,
8 Jan. 2025
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For those of us who love the series, haven’t stopped playing it since it was released in October 2023, and who own every Alter Ego, this is good news.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Hackett was also demoted from his play-calling duties after Saleh was fired.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2025
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When Schmidt returns to the majors next week, Will Warren will probably be demoted.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that the commission, by approving the plans, has violated their fundamental rights.—
Amy Green,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
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Months later, the Department of Justice concluded that five Texas juvenile detention centers violated children's constitutional and civil rights.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA TODAY,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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People only become dependent if every problem is solved for them.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
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This under-desk walking pad solved my problem.—
Cecily McAndrews,
Health,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
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After realizing the mother of three was awake, the intruder immediately bolted out out of the room.—
Vivian Kwarm,
New York Daily News,
17 Dec. 2024
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An overdose episode — Kiana bolted barefoot from their rural home and went missing overnight in the woods — brought police attention and led to charges for child endangerment.—
John Branch,
New York Times,
24 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But some storefronts have shuttered as fear has spread, said Marie Jean-Francois, 45, one business owner there.—
Mark Bonamo,
New York Times,
1 June 2025
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That’s the message that national weather forecasters, emergency management directors and public officials also are spreading as this year’s Atlantic hurricane season starts today and continues through Nov. 30.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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