Thesaurus results for BREAK-IN

break in 1 of 2

verb

Definition of break in

as in to invade

to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent the burglars broke in by smashing a window

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to interrupt

to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met

Synonyms & Similar Words

break-in

2 of 2

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 in

Verb

That's 248 miles (400 km) of range in less than half a driver's mandatory break in Europe. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2026 The news broke in early January 2024, after photos surfaced of Miller on a stroll with her infant and Green. — Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Noun

The defense was expected to go through an early season break-in period given Buffalo introduced four new starters while making the switch to a three-lineman/four linebacker system. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026 An unusual home break-in involving a bear has evolved into an ongoing threat in one Asheville neighborhood, as the predator continues trying to get into houses, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for break in

Recent Examples of Synonyms for break in

Verb

Russia was also holding the vote in the four Ukrainian regions that Moscow claimed after the war began but still does not fully control, and in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia invaded in 2014.

— Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
It's meant to starve Russian President Vladimir Putin of the resources Moscow needs to continue its war in Ukraine after invading its neighbor more than four years ago.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of invade

Verb

It was not based on a news organization’s viewpoint, although the changes were made after one correspondent had repeatedly interrupted press briefings.

— Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
Their talk is then interrupted by a bad signal and a woman in the road whom Bryan’s vehicle strikes.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of interrupt

Noun

Police in Florida released tense body camera video showing the moment a sword-wielding burglary suspect was tased by deputies after allegedly refusing to drop the weapon.

— Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Caleb, whose murder trial is now underway, is accused of killing her and staging the scene to look like a burglary.

— Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of burglary

Verb

The homes of basketball pros Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty and Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks were robbed in 2025.

— Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2026
Investigators say Gonzalez was robbed at gunpoint while meeting Castro in the Aldine area last Sunday to sell property.

— Joe McCoy, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of rob

Verb

That would mean Florida property owners could see big cuts in their property taxes.

— Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
Meanwhile, Republicans are hoping that voters will reward them for the tax cuts in their domestic policy megabill, like deductions for overtime and tips.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of cut in

Noun

Service learned the holdup was due to the site in question also being considered a homeless encampment.

— Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Lee was convicted of fatally shooting Jimmy Ellis, 53, and Elaine Thompson, 44, during a pawn shop holdup in 1998 in Orrville, about 60 miles west of Montgomery.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of holdup

Noun

Trump’s Arch will commemorate his overnight mugging of Venezuela and his colossal misadventures in Iran.

— Letters to the Editor, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026
It’s been 14 years since that mugging, and I haven’t been robbed since, despite traveling to more than 60 countries and moving to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

— Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of mugging

Browse Nearby Words

breakfronts

break in

break-in

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Break in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20in. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of break in

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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