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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to come to an end
the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to divide
to set or force apart
he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
5
as in to cease
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
if you break up during the skit, the audience will know that you're in on the joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in split
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces
the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism pretty much signaled the end of the Cold War
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 up
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
What readers are saying The conversation explores a range of perspectives on the Senate Democrats' proposal to break up big meatpacking companies to lower beef prices.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
The former Miami Hurricanes standout has 28 sacks, 11 pass breakups, 68 QB hits and an interception on his NFL resume.
—Mike Kaye
updated March 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
Other than breaking up the lawn and adding organic matter to the soil before replanting grass seed, core aeration is the best method to improve soil texture.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
What readers are saying The conversation explores a range of perspectives on the Senate Democrats' proposal to break up big meatpacking companies to lower beef prices.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Tonga started eight of 17 games last year, recording 31 tackles, a sack, four QB hits and a pair of pass breakups.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
The former Miami Hurricanes standout has 28 sacks, 11 pass breakups, 68 QB hits and an interception on his NFL resume.
—Mike Kaye
updated March 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
-
Order 2 disbanded the Iraqi army but did not disarm it.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The Florida revelations came after the statewide New York Young Republicans chapter was disbanded last fall after antisemitic and racist messages between chapter leadership were leaked to the press.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After Elmarko Jackson’s flagrant foul stopping a dunk in transition — the play was called a common foul but quickly upgraded to a flagrant-one — the Jayhawks and Sun Devils came together.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The administration has tried everything in its toolbox to stop it, based on not data or studies or anything much beyond rich-old-man pique.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Party strategists in both camps acknowledge that a prolonged and bitter runoff could leave Republicans divided heading into the fall.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Committee members were split on proposals to close schools — divided between the belief that campuses with few students burden staff and provide limited resources, and the worry that combining small schools will create overcrowding, split communities and harm students.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the Los Angeles area and a few places around the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost of gas has cracked $5-per-gallon again and is even tipping toward $6 in a few places.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Edwards was shooting 46 percent on long 2-pointers, which cracked the NBA’s top 10 (among qualifying perimeter players) leading into Thursday night’s action.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Time ceases to exist in a place like this.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
For similar reasons, many of the foundations and artists’ estates once considered the ultimate authorities (like the Keith Haring Foundation and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts) have ceased offering authentication services.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Still, the broader bond rout reflects anxiety about the global economy after crude oil surged toward $120 a barrel, up almost 80% since the Iran war began and disrupted shipments from the Middle East.—
Marcus Wong,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Beijing may need to look elsewhere for supply if Iran’s exports are disrupted, another factor that could increase energy prices.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And the sketches made people laugh.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
This World Premiere buddy comedy will warm your heart and leave you laughing long after the lanterns go out.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Williams now generates more than half of its revenue from the commercial side of its business, Savage said, which is starting to emulate the 66% to 75% split that the sport’s cash-generating giants, like Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren, reap from that category.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The $15-fruit-spread split comes about seven months after Netflix downgraded Markle’s production deal from an overall to a first-look.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
