Synonyms of breaking
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as in disrupting
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as in stopping
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as in reducing
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as in deciphering
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as in pausing
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as in plowing
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as in violating
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as in solving
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as in damaging
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as in dying
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as in retreating
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as in wearing
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as in spreading
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as in bankrupting
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as in originating
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as in veering
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as in lowering
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as in exceeding
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as in surfacing
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Example Sentences
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Phrases Containing
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Entries Near
1
as in disrupting
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
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Relevance
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2
as in stopping
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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3
as in reducing
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
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4
as in deciphering
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
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5
as in pausing
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
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6
as in plowing
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows
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7
as in violating
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
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8
as in solving
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
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9
as in damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in dying
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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11
as in retreating
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
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12
as in wearing
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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13
as in spreading
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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14
as in bankrupting
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
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15
as in originating
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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16
as in veering
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
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17
as in lowering
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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18
as in exceeding
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
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19
as in surfacing
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below
dolphins were breaking all around the boat
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breaking
The conflict was sparked by Hezbollah targeting Israel after the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, breaking a 2024 ceasefire that in any case had largely failed.
—
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Adebayo’s 43-point first half set a new franchise record for the most points by a Heat player in any half, breaking the previous team record of 37 points set by James in a second half on March 3, 2014.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
My heart was literally breaking for him.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Google said that those agents can help with work such as drafting meeting notes, creating action items and breaking large projects into step-by-step plans.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
Monday evening brought one of the first steps towards breaking ground.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Skenes’ repertoire was electric as per usual, with sharp breaking sinkers and changeups to go along with a high-90 mph fastball.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
The heat is expected to topple several daily temperature records across the region with some locations potentially breaking the all-time record for the month of March, according to the weather service.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers cold case investigations, breaking news and the death penalty for USA TODAY.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Adebayo’s 43-point first half set a new franchise record for the most points by a Heat player in any half, breaking the previous team record of 37 points set by James in a second half on March 3, 2014.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
My heart was literally breaking for him.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Google said that those agents can help with work such as drafting meeting notes, creating action items and breaking large projects into step-by-step plans.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
Monday evening brought one of the first steps towards breaking ground.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Skenes’ repertoire was electric as per usual, with sharp breaking sinkers and changeups to go along with a high-90 mph fastball.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
The heat is expected to topple several daily temperature records across the region with some locations potentially breaking the all-time record for the month of March, according to the weather service.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers cold case investigations, breaking news and the death penalty for USA TODAY.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking
Verb
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Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil trade.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
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Iran itself is destroying homes and schools, killing and wounding dozens, and disrupting daily life, sometimes beyond recognition.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rather than stopping disagreements from happening, this aspect is about repairing any damage left behind.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
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Tuesday’s game featured intentional clock-stopping, game-extending fouls by the Heat.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The departments of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development and Transportation, along with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, are instructed to eliminate regulations and update programs that are reducing residential development.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
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But the practical effect also meant that the entire second floor of the hotel was turned over to the pope, reducing its capacity for paying guests.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Binary neutron stars have long been considered the best bet for deciphering what lurks within.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
15 Mar. 2026
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When your speech is clear and reliable, no fog, no spin, no quiet evasions, people stop wasting energy deciphering you and start collaborating with you.—
Adam Dietz,
Big Think,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Breathing exercises Breathing slowly and evenly can help slow an elevated heart rate, and bring a sense of calm to an agitated state of mind—plus, pausing to practice slow, deep breaths helps kids connect to, and understand, bigger emotions.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
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After pausing for winter weather, Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials announced that construction will resume on the road, also known as Forest Home Avenue, starting the week of March 16.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Others have issues with the imagery on the seal on the flag, which depicts a settler plowing the land as a Native American rides off on horseback into the distance.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
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While plowing through waist-deep powder in Tahoe, California, two skiers came across a third buried below the surface.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The judge had called attorneys representing the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado and ICE back into his courtroom for a hearing this week after the ACLU and other attorneys alleged that ICE was repeatedly violating his order.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
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In February, the NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Pacers $100,000 for violating the league’s player participation policy as part of a league-wide crackdown on tanking.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One senior official told reporters over the weekend that businesses need to take a greater lead in helping policymakers figure out which tech challenges are worth solving and in evaluating research outcomes.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
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But there was something about this—the problem solving with the life and death part of it, the actual heights of it.—
Outside,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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