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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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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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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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
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Recent Examples of break
Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 8 June 2026
In February, a federal judge said that the IRS broke the law by disclosing confidential taxpayer information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, referring to the same 47,000 disclosures that TIGTA points out.
—ABC News, 8 June 2026
Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
The Liberty took a 23-18 lead at the first quarter break.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for break
Verb
Obsession has broken yet another box office record, one set before filmmaker Curry Barker was in grade school.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 8 June 2026
In February, a federal judge said that the IRS broke the law by disclosing confidential taxpayer information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, referring to the same 47,000 disclosures that TIGTA points out.
—ABC News, 8 June 2026
Noun
The quake struck on the first day of classes nationwide after a two-month summer break, and many who sustained injuries were young students who had gathered with excitement for morning flag-raising ceremonies.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
The Liberty took a 23-18 lead at the first quarter break.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for break
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Verb
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Deciding on a solution to the long-running turtle tizzy at I-95’s Exit 42, where 100-foot-tall light towers burn so brightly experts say the glow disrupts sea turtle nesting on beaches 12 miles away, has state and local government officials at loggerheads.—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
8 June 2026
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According to the regional police, armed supporters of the group shot at security forces in Rawalakot and later surrounded the Combined Military Hospital, disrupting medical services.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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By targeting Israel in response to attacks in Lebanon, Tehran appeared to be signaling that its red lines no longer stop at its own borders – and that its leaders are ready to take greater risks.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
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Bussi got the nod after stopping 18 of 19 shots in relief of Andersen in Game 3 in the third period and two overtimes.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Before long, the living room is reduced to a bare stage, upon which only a couple of pulleys and switches are visible.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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Each ergonomic Nuage seat fully reclines to improve circulation and reduce back pressure.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Armed with an adventure kit, participants are summoned to a secret location where they’re tasked with deciphering cryptic codes, uncovering hidden symbols, navigating shifting alliances and outwit enemies and operatives stationed around the campus.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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Immigration experts who were trying to decipher the news said the memo was more nuanced, leading to confusion over what the change actually entailed.—
Rebecca Santana,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Visitors passing through the imposing glass doors of FamilySearch Library on Salt Lake City’s Temple Square are likely to pause at the sheer size of the five-story, 135,000-square-foot archive, which houses the largest collection of genealogical data in the world.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
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Tan has laid off approximately 34% of Intel’s workforce and paused plans to expand manufacturing facilities in Germany and Poland.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Instead, countries like Poland are plowing funds into their own defense firms.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
7 June 2026
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During a press conference Tuesday, Chitwood played surveillance video showing the impact and the truck plowing through the tiny structure and then continuing out across the beach and in the shallow waves the Atlantic before it got stuck.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 June 2026
Verb
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So Daniel’s book violated those rules, and Louis’ actions within the book did, too.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 June 2026
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The lawsuit says such approval violated National Park Service regulations prohibiting sporting events on federal parklands, Congress did not consent to the towering arch overlooking the event space and no environmental review was conducted before the construction.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Despite having tiny brains, bumblebees have demonstrated a remarkable ability to socially learn how to use tools, solve simple puzzles, and cooperate to achieve a goal.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
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Palantir solved the prisoner’s dilemma by defecting first.—
Michael Gregory,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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