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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of break up
Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2026
Topography and shifting climates had broken up these populations into different habitats, allowing each to evolve into distinct species.
—Torben Rick, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
The breakup occurred shortly after the Zhuque-2E rocket reached orbit on June 9 with two satellites providing direct-to-cell communications, perhaps around the time the upper stage was expected to perform a disposal burn.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
The buses will leave for the stadium earlier, timed for arrival as soon as FIFA will allow the gates to open, to help break up the clutter.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2026
Topography and shifting climates had broken up these populations into different habitats, allowing each to evolve into distinct species.
—Torben Rick, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
Noun
Acceptance is a huge part of recovering from breakups.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
The breakup occurred shortly after the Zhuque-2E rocket reached orbit on June 9 with two satellites providing direct-to-cell communications, perhaps around the time the upper stage was expected to perform a disposal burn.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
-
The city and a group of taxpayers for years squabbled in court over whether the government had the right to enter into a contract with the Friends, which ultimately disbanded before the zoo opened in Griffith Park in 1966.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
This group, along with a number of others dedicated to examining and addressing inequities in the military, has been disbanded.—
Clint Smith,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Chisholm scored on Jose Caballero's RBI groundout in the fourth inning before hitting a two-run homer in the sixth as New York ended a three-game losing streak and stopped Detroit's four-game winning streak.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
-
Disneyland officials said a cast member immediately stopped the ride.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
Verb
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The proposal also has divided politicians within the Democratic Party.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Support for Ukraine has divided the GOP for years.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The former cracked the top 10 on Spain's radio airplay chart.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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And not one property owner has participated in a pilot program requiring landlords to give current tenants first crack at purchasing multifamily buildings.—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Verb
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As of Monday evening, no formal announcement had been made regarding when the facility would cease operations or when the demobilization process would be completed.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
-
Haiti ceased making payments in 1947.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Verb
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The fires also disrupted travel across parts of Miami-Dade County.—
Steve Maugeri,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
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Poor nutrition, lack of physical activity and health conditions like metabolic bone disease can disrupt bone remodeling, leading to weaker bones over time.—
Priya Bhardwaj,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Verb
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Parts of the ad featured realistic-looking footage of Massie walking, dining, and laughing with the two.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2026
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The High Museum of Art is also hosting a Juneteenth event for visitors to tour the art galleries, make art of their own, listen to stories and poetry, laugh with comedians and dance during a Tambor Party.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
All cheerleaders must be flexible and able to perform the splits by the start of the season.—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
20 June 2026
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However, the game — which was played on a dreadful pitch in front of almost 115,000 people at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City — will forever be remembered for Maradona’s two goals that perfectly encapsulated the split-screen feel to his career.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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