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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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
Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The rules are rarely spoken, but breaking them can feel surprisingly consequential.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 18 May 2026
Michelle Kaufman
may 12, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
Great Lakes Water Authority and other Oakland County local officials gave an update to a water main break during a press conference on May 12, 2026.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for break
Verb
Emeril’s has to elevate that memory without breaking it.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The rules are rarely spoken, but breaking them can feel surprisingly consequential.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 18 May 2026
Noun
Inter Miami hits the road again for a Wednesday game against FC Cincinnati, hoping to inch closer to the top of the Eastern Conference with three games remaining before MLS takes a seven-week World Cup break.
—Michelle Kaufman
may 12, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
Great Lakes Water Authority and other Oakland County local officials gave an update to a water main break during a press conference on May 12, 2026.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for break
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Verb
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There has also been concern that two common sunscreen ingredients, homosalate and oxybenzone, may have endocrine-disrupting properties.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
18 May 2026
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Residents rallied against landowner Matt Connell’s proposal with many expressing concerns the burial site would disrupt their quiet community and contaminate groundwater or attract wildlife that could dig up the graves.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Verb
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This $20 maxi dress is versatile enough to serve multiple occasions and seasons—and shoppers can’t stop buying multiples of them.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
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Goalkeeper Isabell Ikirt stopped a shot by Oconee County’s Sydney Jackson, prompting celebration by Jefferson, but the Dragons were told Ikirt had come off the line.—
Sarah Spencer,
AJC.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Eco effort The hotel employs single-stream recycling and green housekeeping practices, and also has a green roof ecosystem to reduce the building’s heat load.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
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New research suggests these medications, best known for managing diabetes and driving weight loss, may also reduce the severity of one of the most common and underdiagnosed sleep disorders in the country.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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In corporate news, luxury conglomerate and industry bellwether LVMH reported quarterly sales that missed expectations on Monday as the sector begins to decipher the fallout from the war in the Middle East and its impact on stocks.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
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The researchers then deciphered certain traits that were linked to the habit.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bianco obtained three search warrants and began seizing ballots in February, despite being ordered by Attorney General Rob Bonta to pause the investigation.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Over the last four years, carriers have retreated from the state entirely or have paused writing new policies.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft have been plowing hundreds of billions of dollars a year into AI.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
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The project plowed through tar and oil wells that needed to be capped.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Over the past three weeks, the collapse of the once-tight bond between two of the most prominent names in AI has been the subject of a high-profile trial in Oakland, California, after Musk sued Altman and OpenAI in 2024 for allegedly violating their commitment to keep OpenAI as a nonprofit.—
Ashley Capoot,Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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For now, Carl still looks like an ethical saint compared to Duncan, who remains committed to violating privacy laws with such brazenness that even the federal government would be moved to pass enforceable regulations against him.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
17 May 2026
Verb
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November 22 – December 21 A small system could suddenly solve more than expected today.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
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Fifty-one years later, Three Days of the Condor offers business leaders lessons in individual resilience, creative problem solving in chaos and the value of transparency under pressure.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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