Synonyms of break
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as in to disrupt
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as in to stop
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as in to reduce
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as in to decipher
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as in to pause
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as in to plow
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as in to violate
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as in to solve
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as in to damage
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as in to die
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as in to retreat
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as in to wear
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as in to circulate
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as in to ruin
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as in to begin
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as in to veer
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as in to depress
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as in to exceed
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as in to surface
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as in pause
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as in vacation
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as in gap
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as in opportunity
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as in accident
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as in escape
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Example Sentences
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Phrases Containing
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Related Articles
1
as in to disrupt
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 to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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3
as in to reduce
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 to decipher
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 to pause
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
7
as in to violate
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 to solve
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 to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in to die
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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11
as in to retreat
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 to wear
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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13
as in to circulate
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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15
as in to begin
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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16
as in to veer
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 to depress
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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18
as in to exceed
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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1
as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity
there was a brief break after the first movement as the doors to the concert hall were opened and the latecomers were allowed in
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2
as in vacation
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended
most of the students at the boarding school are going home for Christmas break
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3
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
the rancher repaired the break in the fence where the horse had gotten through
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4
5
as in accident
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events
a guy who just seems to get all the breaks in life
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6
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
a desperate break from that hellhole
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of break
Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2026
Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
Haight was almost immediately whistled for tripping, but Minnesota’s penalty killers produced a 2-on-1 break and a two-goal lead when McCarron beat Hofer with a wrist shot after a set-up pass from Foligno.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break
Verb
Deputies then attempted to extract the suspect from the vehicle, including by breaking windows and tossing tear gas into the car.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
Keeping on theme about celebrating movement, Williams even performs a dance break, choreographed by Tyrik Patterson.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
Haight was almost immediately whistled for tripping, but Minnesota’s penalty killers produced a 2-on-1 break and a two-goal lead when McCarron beat Hofer with a wrist shot after a set-up pass from Foligno.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Verb
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Western analysts and officials say Ukraine has in recent months recorded battlefield successes against Russia’s bigger army, disrupting a spring offensive started by Russia amid improving weather, as fields dry out and new foliage on tree lines offers more cover.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Florida didn't want to pay any homage to Quick during the game, so as not to disrupt the goalie's typical routines.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On the whole, the findings suggest that the rise of AI tools hasn't stopped people from seeking professional medical care.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Some stepped on their brakes and with the ice on the road, the cars simply wouldn't stop.—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Smith said after talking to Gregg, Wheels Up reduced the price to $850, but storage fees for having the car since April 1 bring the grand total to at least $2,600.—
Liz Crawford,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Much like Vietnam, only a lot faster, the American war in Iran has reduced itself to saving face.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The researchers then deciphered certain traits that were linked to the habit.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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Kinsella was excited for Yates’ voice to be an easter egg—one of many voices to be deciphered by fans among a scream-singing chorus.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The reader who pauses for breath, after this recitation of horrors, is soon rewarded by being plunged into a yet more catastrophic mire.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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For the event, Meghan opted for a bright gown, momentarily pausing her streak of understated, minimalist looks in favor of something a little bolder.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Each April, Earth plows through its dusty trail — tiny grains burning up in the atmosphere at around 30 miles per second.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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Jaylin Williams plowed through a screening Murray as Jokic drained a triple, enabling the Nuggets to tie it with a fortuitous 4-point play.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Werner said there is one charge, an accusation of participating in an encampment that disturbed university operations, which violates the faculty code of conduct.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
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The penalty for violating the speed limit depends on how fast the driver is going.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While philosophers may lose sleep over it, physicists don’t have to, because cosmic inflation solves it.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Apr. 2026
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Seeking to solve the problem, the state House of Representatives voted 124-21 this week to force tire retailers to join a state stewardship program by July 2027.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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