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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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
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
The district denied wrongdoing, but that investigation found the district broke the law and that the practice disproportionately affected Black and Latino students.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 28 May 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
But that’s not the only thing forcing Li to break his mother’s decree.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
The district denied wrongdoing, but that investigation found the district broke the law and that the practice disproportionately affected Black and Latino students.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 28 May 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
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Despite the sharp decline in sales, Capri’s inventories were up 1 percent at the end of the quarter, reflecting $60 million of goods that were brought in earlier than planned in a sourcing landscape that’s been disrupted by President Donald Trump’s trade war.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
28 May 2025
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An extended pause in scheduling student visas could lead to delays that may disrupt college, boarding-school or exchange students’ plans to enroll in summer and fall terms.—
Annie Ma,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
Verb
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The chase reportedly ended when Buckley wrecked near the intersection of Watts and McAlister streets, an area of mostly forest about 1 1/2 miles southeast of where Buckley was first stopped.—
Grant Lancaster,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2025
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The former analyst ends up becoming a critical new addition to the gang in their mission to stop the Entity from destroying the world.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Verb
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With Bayern aiming to reduce their wage bill, the Wirtz signing would have come at the cost of at least an extra €20million (£16.8m, $22.7m) per year, on top of a transfer fee somewhere between €100m and €150m.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
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Their original sentences, which were 12 years and seven years, respectively, were reduced in September 2023.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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For all of the five-year remembrances of Covid-19, few have paused to recall the cyber smash-and-grab that hoovered billions of dollars out of state unemployment offices.—
Will Swaim,
National Review,
28 May 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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In Minnesota, leaders are bracing for the possibility that Trump will pardon Chauvin, who is serving concurrent state and federal prison sentences for murder, violating Floyd's constitutional rights and other crimes.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
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The refrigerator was not cold enough and two cats roamed the shop, violating state food code.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2025
Verb
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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
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Eventually the problem of making safe, fuel-efficient, consumer-friendly automobiles was more or less solved.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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