Synonyms of break
-
as in to disrupt 
-
as in to stop
-
as in to reduce
-
as in to decipher
-
as in to pause
-
as in to plow
-
as in to violate
-
as in to solve
-
as in to damage
-
as in to die
-
as in to retreat
-
as in to wear
-
as in to circulate
-
as in to ruin
-
as in to begin
-
as in to veer
-
as in to depress
-
as in to exceed
-
as in to surface
-
as in pause
-
as in vacation
-
as in gap
-
as in opportunity
-
as in accident
-
as in escape
-
Example Sentences
-
Phrases Containing
-
Entries Near
-
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in to die
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in to wear
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in to circulate
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
15
as in to begin
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
17
as in to depress
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
a desperate break from that hellhole
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of break
Sean Gregory, Time, 7 June 2025
Economists predicted that the United States would break free of its long-running housing slump in 2025.
—Luke Broadwater Eric Schmitt Glenn Thrush Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Jay Cannon, USA Today, 27 May 2025
Chances arrived at both ends before the decisive moment, David Silva bouncing a close-range volley over the bar before the break, while Kenwyne Jones toe-poked a shot into a sprawling Joe Hart — Stoke’s only on-target attempt of the game.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for break
Verb
Serving for the set at 5-4, Sabalenka couldn’t finish off Gauff, who saved two set points and finally broke Sabalenka on her fifth chance.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 7 June 2025
Economists predicted that the United States would break free of its long-running housing slump in 2025.
—Luke Broadwater Eric Schmitt Glenn Thrush Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Noun
Here’s a look at Tuesday, May 27, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 27 drawing
06-28-34-48-62, Mega Ball: 09
Need a break?
—Jay Cannon, USA Today, 27 May 2025
Chances arrived at both ends before the decisive moment, David Silva bouncing a close-range volley over the bar before the break, while Kenwyne Jones toe-poked a shot into a sprawling Joe Hart — Stoke’s only on-target attempt of the game.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for break
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Verb
-
The earthquake disrupted the World Series and damaged the Bay Bridge, Oakland’s Cypress Freeway, and swaths of San Francisco.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
-
The cuts will disrupt ongoing research, ruin experiments and datasets, destroy the careers of aspiring scientists, and deter long-term investments at universities across the country.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
On September 2, Border Force officers had stopped two women at London Stansted Airport.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
This move did not stop at regulation but was backed by public education campaigns and investment in local businesses producing biodegradable alternatives.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
Here are recommendations for maintaining safety during a thunderstorm: To reduce the chance of being struck by lightning, when venturing outside, have a plan to get to a safer area.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2025
-
Yerevan has since sought to diversify its defense sources, reducing arms imports from Russia to as low as 10 percent by 2024.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
As Guidry and Bowen try to decipher what led to Adam’s murder, viewers are taken on a ride.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
29 May 2025
-
As advocates on both sides of the police accountability debate decipher what Trump's about-face means for those communities, some are now focusing on what his administration might do next as allies seek to redefine the summer of 2020.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
President Trump’s administration will pause all student visa interviews to allow for greater surveillance of applicants’ social media accounts, the administration announced Tuesday.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
29 May 2025
-
Three weeks after Skydance paused new spending on a series starring and executive produced by Jeremy Strong and written and executive produced by Tobias Lindholm and Frank Pugliese, the high-profile drama has been put on hold, sources tell Deadline.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
The highway where the crash happened is on a route between Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons that is open in the spring before a north-south route is plowed and the park fully opens for summer.—
Michael Dorgan , Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2025
-
Throughout the seasons, our roads are maintained by the county, from snow plowing in the winter to grading the bumps during the other three seasons.—
Melinda Fouts,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
The amendment was inspired by neighboring counties, including Sacramento and Placer, that already instituted hefty fines for violating fireworks ordinances.—
Jack Rodriquez-Vars,
Sacbee.com,
5 June 2025
-
But in recent years Maryland has violated the criteria more frequently than any other state.—
Rachel Baye,
NPR,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
Eventually the problem of making safe, fuel-efficient, consumer-friendly automobiles was more or less solved.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
-
With an intention to welcome 1 million foreign workers over the next three years, the plan to solve Spain's overtourism issues has never been more prescient.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share