break up 1 of 2

1
as in to disband
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization the band broke up when their arguments over money grew too stressful

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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4
as in to crack
to yield to mental or emotional stress the sort of person who would be among the first to break up in a prisoner of war camp

Synonyms & Similar Words

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breakup

2 of 2

noun

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 up
Verb
In the end, the band didn’t break up out of acrimony. David Hill, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025 Wings didn’t play another show and broke up the following year. Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
Jones, in four games this season, produced nine tackles, a pass breakup and a sack. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2025 Deal stuffed the stat sheet with two tackles, a pass breakup, four quarterback hits and a half-sack, and made plays at critical moments for the Horned Frogs. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
  • Soon after the May 2024 text exchange, the group chat disbanded.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The Indiana 50501 protest group disbanded due to internal infighting.
    Cate Charron, IndyStar, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Wearing a floor-length brown double-breasted coat featuring buttons that stopped at her waist, the attire created a sultry thigh-high slit that allowed Jolie's leg to peek through.
    Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Studies in animals and reports from people show that the side effects of this drug can continue even after someone stops taking it.
    Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Discussions have been held about dividing Madrid’s football operations from their business operations and letting speculators invest in the latter — although how (or if) that would work in practice is a moot point.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Most herbaceous perennials that spread or clump can flourish when divided every few years, such as hostas, coneflowers, daylilies, phlox, and bee balm.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But Uchis never expected to crack the bilingual code this effectively.
    Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
  • That would track with current projections, which have four movies expected to crack double digits in total nominations on Oscar morning.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, during the shutdown, VA benefits regional offices are closed, transition program assistance has ceased and VA cemetery grounds are not being maintained.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Past this point, plant growth will begin to cease, resulting in the same state in their crops as if a hard freeze has happened.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • He was also accused of disrupting a second informational table hosted by a student group, according to Illinois State University Police.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Kathryn Palmer The shutdown unfortunately disrupted my weekend plans to check out the FDR Presidential Library in upstate New York, but the gorgeous fall weather in the area was a welcome consolation.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Years later, my mother laughed at this attitude of mine.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Victoria asks her husband, laughing.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Despite their split, both parents have continued to be supportive of their sons.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The gamble backfired and his centrist bloc lost seats to both extremes, leaving France with a three-way split parliament and a government that could not pass major legislation.
    Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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