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
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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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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
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
Bands that had broken up have reformed, playing bigger venues than ever and creating some of the best music of their careers.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 15 May 2026
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2026
The show also changes two of the biggest narrative plot points from the books — the Hannah and Garrett breakup and the campus-wide hands-off law.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
His two-out eighth inning single second broke up Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti’s attempt at a no hitter.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
Bands that had broken up have reformed, playing bigger venues than ever and creating some of the best music of their careers.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 15 May 2026
Noun
Lewis had a successful solo career, her breakup with Sennett left some lasting scars, professionally and personally, and communication between the two camps seemed largely nonexistent.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2026
The show also changes two of the biggest narrative plot points from the books — the Hannah and Garrett breakup and the campus-wide hands-off law.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
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The subject of the Wings documentary Man on the Run, McCartney debuted on SNL in 1980, a year before that group disbanded.—
William Vaillancourt,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2026
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Police officials said Tuesday that the anti-gang unit would be temporarily disbanded while the department reviews the matter.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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This $20 maxi dress is versatile enough to serve multiple occasions and seasons—and shoppers can’t stop buying multiples of them.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
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Goalkeeper Isabell Ikirt stopped a shot by Oconee County’s Sydney Jackson, prompting celebration by Jefferson, but the Dragons were told Ikirt had come off the line.—
Sarah Spencer,
AJC.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Top with 4 scallions, thinly sliced, dividing evenly, and drizzle toasted sesame oil over if desired.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
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The rooms The property is divided into two towers that are connected by a sky bridge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The world cracked open, and now everyone’s striving to fit the jagged pieces back into a box called civilized society.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
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And given that cement is one of the tougher nuts to crack in the struggle to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, concrete solutions are welcome.—
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Key indicators include clients engaging more with competitors, ceasing to credit your work in their successes, and offering delayed or forced responses to communications.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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After making a batch, production ceased a few weeks ago.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
18 May 2026
Verb
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There has also been concern that two common sunscreen ingredients, homosalate and oxybenzone, may have endocrine-disrupting properties.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
18 May 2026
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Residents rallied against landowner Matt Connell’s proposal with many expressing concerns the burial site would disrupt their quiet community and contaminate groundwater or attract wildlife that could dig up the graves.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The two have grown close as a regular double-play duo, constantly joking and laughing together in the clubhouse and on the field.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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Jackson laughs with Kirkwood over the chance meeting, calls in the other referees for a group picture.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
16 May 2026
Noun
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The first major split occurred when lawmakers passed an emergency bill, Senate Bill 298, on a largely party line vote in late February.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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Multiple sources later confirmed their split to PEOPLE in January 2025, though they were spotted together on several occasions in the months to follow.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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