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

One of Steves’s golden travel rules is to pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes that are already broken in. — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 13 Sep. 2026 Thursday may bring a break in the heat for some cities like Oklahoma City, but the high heat and humidity are likely to return Friday through Sunday. — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

Noun

The animals had spent roughly four hours inside the restaurant during the early morning, and Brandi’s description of their antics makes the surveillance footage sound more like an after-hours party than a break-in. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026 Tomás, the leader of a labor union, has received death threats before; the break-in was one final warning. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for break in

Recent Examples of Synonyms for break in

Verb

There is perhaps a subtle critique here, of the predatory instincts of the filmmaker towards their subject, of the desire to invade someone else’s life and shape their reality according to your own will.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
After Allied forces invaded Normandy, the cover of this magazine was mocked up in Bayeux-style stitching.

— John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of invade

Verb

The first type connects two points on the boundary or crust without being interrupted by other cuts.

— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
Weiss’ overhaul of the show interrupted a critical off-season period when correspondents typically try to file and finish a segment for the fall.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of interrupt

Noun

Officer Luis Triunfel, 33, was charged Monday with burglary, grand larceny, computer trespass and tampering with evidence, police said.

— Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
Cook County court records indicate Arroyo was convicted of a 1996 felony burglary and sentenced to 18 months' probation.

— Dave Savini, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of burglary

Verb

Kim Kardashian was awarded 1 euro in damages for being the target of an armed heist in 2016 at the Hôtel de Pourtalès in Paris, where she was robbed of millions in jewelry.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
The cast works at different speeds and volumes, diffusing the comic potential by robbing the show of a consistent style or tone.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of rob

Verb

Takaichi introduces tax cut and ambitious spending Takaichi, as part of her measures to combat rising prices, has pushed a two-year cut in the consumption tax to 1% from the current 8% and payouts to households.

— Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
The stock traded above $500 in 2021, then spent the next three years getting cut in half, then cut in half again, as growth slowed, the Grail acquisition blew up under regulatory pressure and the market wanted nothing to do with it.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 17 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

The young actors are appealing, led by Lilah Pate and Chabley Ponce; there’s a sweetness and naturalness to their cameraderie that stands out amid so much mugging and gives the film a lift.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Is a 1-game suspension enough for the mugging?

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026

Definition of mugging

Browse Nearby Words

breakfronts

break in

break-in

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of break in

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

volition

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes