Synonyms of breaking
-
as in disrupting 
-
as in stopping
-
as in reducing
-
as in deciphering
-
as in pausing
-
as in plowing
-
as in violating
-
as in solving
-
as in damaging
-
as in dying
-
as in retreating
-
as in wearing
-
as in spreading
-
as in bankrupting
-
as in originating
-
as in veering
-
as in lowering
-
as in exceeding
-
as in surfacing
-
Example Sentences
-
Phrases Containing
-
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopping
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in violating
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in dying
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in wearing
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in spreading
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
15
as in originating
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
17
as in lowering
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
19
as in surfacing
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below
dolphins were breaking all around the boat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 breaking
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
—
Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2025
While Japan and China are already breaking speed records and bringing the technology to life, projects in the West are still struggling to deliver even conventional high-speed rail.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
—Greg Wehner , Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
This story is breaking and will be updated.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The new 12-night journey will launch in the summer of 2027 aboard the company's ice-breaking Le Commandant Charcot ship and is purposely designed to meet demand for a shorter cruise that still celebrates polar exploration, Ponant shared with Travel + Leisure.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
Japan’s Nikkei 225 also hit a fresh high Tuesday, breaking the 44,000 level, but gave up gains later in the session.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the proud mom swapped out her Facebook cover photo after the Super Bowl champion and the pop superstar announced their internet-breaking news.
—Sarah Jones, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Tim Stelloh Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025
Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2025
While Japan and China are already breaking speed records and bringing the technology to life, projects in the West are still struggling to deliver even conventional high-speed rail.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
—Greg Wehner , Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
This story is breaking and will be updated.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The new 12-night journey will launch in the summer of 2027 aboard the company's ice-breaking Le Commandant Charcot ship and is purposely designed to meet demand for a shorter cruise that still celebrates polar exploration, Ponant shared with Travel + Leisure.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
Japan’s Nikkei 225 also hit a fresh high Tuesday, breaking the 44,000 level, but gave up gains later in the session.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the proud mom swapped out her Facebook cover photo after the Super Bowl champion and the pop superstar announced their internet-breaking news.
—Sarah Jones, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Tim Stelloh Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking
Verb
-
However, the president’s criticism of mail-in ballots could risk disrupting the inroads Republicans made with voters last cycle, with the party spending millions promoting mail-in ballots ahead of the 2024 election.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The limitations placed on these researchers is disrupting NASA’s work and could stymie the careers of younger Chinese researchers who came to the US to advance their scientific work, as well as benefit the space agency through their findings, the sources said.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To my surprise, Gary Friedman, the CEO and visionary behind the brand, was in the restaurant, casually moving between tables and greeting guests before graciously stopping at ours.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
One video was a loop showing the moment of impact in slow-motion, stopping before blood is seen.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The confirmation came just two days before the Fed is expected to vote on reducing its key interest rate.—
Adeola Adeosun
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Every action counts, whether reducing HFCs, investing in sustainable cooling, or holding governments accountable for climate commitments.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For families deciphering what’s necessary and what to skip in a skin regimen, building a healthy routine for kids can be easy to manage.—
Khanh T.L. Tran,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
To make deciphering all these invites a little easier, here’s what to know about formal attire.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
While many executives are pausing on big hires or deferring large projects, Dave Anderson, Founder of TSC Security, argues that protecting your company’s digital assets should not be placed on the back burner.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
That means pausing to make sure your own needs are met before catering to everyone else and taking some time out of the day to embrace life’s quiet moments.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On the ensuing possession, five Doerr runs in seven plays propelled a drive that ended with Willie Harris plowing home on a 4-yard run.—
Tris Wykes,
Twin Cities,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Once the target audience for novelists, boys and young men are much more likely to spend time gaming than plowing through 400 pages of anything.—
Doug McIntyre,
Oc Register,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The bill will force cities in large counties in the state to allow projects on properties within one-half mile of certain transit stops, even on land that is not zoned for residential use, or face a fine for violating state law.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
San Diego City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell has admitted violating city record-keeping rules during her 2022 re-election campaign and agreed to pay a $300 fine to resolve the case brought by the San Diego Ethics Commission.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Kepler notes that achieving a straight-knee gait with this hybrid setup required solving both mechanical and control challenges, especially when moving from simulation to physical robots.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
-
But ask yourself—are these experiments solving top-priority problems?—
Rishit Lakhani,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share