break in 1 of 2

1
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

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2
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

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-in
Verb
Mabel and Charles follow leads after a break-in. Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 The jury also found Serafini guilty of first-degree burglary for the break-in at the couple’s West Lake Boulevard home. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
Iza had previously sent his security detail to Zelocchi’s house and tried to break in; Zelocchi had fired several rounds before police arrived. Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025 Though neither Levinson nor HBO have indicated that Euphoria season 3 will see a break in episode format. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for break-in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break-in
Verb
  • In the middle of the festivities, Cameron and Ray watch as it's revealed that Iraq has invaded Kuwait.
    Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • But when Russia invaded Ukraine, South Africa repeatedly abstained from United Nations votes on the war—rankling officials in Washington.
    Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Three separate protesters interrupted the former vice president to heckle her about Palestine within minutes of her taking the stage at the Southbank Centre on Thursday night to promote her memoir, 107 Days.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Those plans are interrupted, though, when his daughter (Selena Gomez) falls in love with a human (Andy Samberg).
    Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There were no injuries as a result of the burglary, according to Pix 11 News.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • He was sentenced to 17 years for armed kidnapping and 17 years for armed burglary with assault or battery.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Both men are suspected of having been part of a team alleged to have robbed the Louvre last week.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The movie tries to pick up the threads of previous films, but, in attempting to make Myers more mystical, this film robs him of his knife-edge menace.
    Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Even though this would be the second rate cut in a row, many of those consumer rates are likely to stay higher, for now.
    Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Who is affected by SNAP cuts in NC?
    Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • One potential holdup to the potential blockbuster deal is the salary-cap implications.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Another holdup was that the county needed to deliver a certain amount of trash to the landfills to meet their contract obligations.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Staged to look like a random mugging of a courier, the robbery was, in fact, a sophisticated heist that would ultimately involve the Provisional IRA, the New York mafia and the Colombian cartel.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
  • The mugging of his early selfies has vanished.
    David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Break-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break-in. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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