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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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of breaking
At the time of his arrest, Scott had an open warrant for skipping court in a 2022 burglary case, in which he was accused of breaking into his mother’s apartment building with two other men and stealing items including a ladder.
—
Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
On the heels of her internet-breaking Maison Margiela porcelain-skin makeup, McGrath launched a limited edition Glass Skin Artistry Mask so fans could recreate the look at home.
—Tracee Ellis Ross, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
Chirino, a cop of four years, had confronted Banegas for breaking into cars, prosecutors say.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Asia-Pacific markets advanced Monday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 breaking the 50,000 level for the first time.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
In a viral Reddit post, a dog owner revealed what her golden retriever did after breaking into their neighbors’ home, and internet users can’t stop laughing.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Yes, but Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission says that the option wasn’t revealed until consumers began the cancellation process, breaking consumer law.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Another study challenging the MICI scenario noted that breaking ice also tends to form a mélange, a dense, jumbled slurry of icebergs and sea ice.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
On the heels of her internet-breaking Maison Margiela porcelain-skin makeup, McGrath launched a limited edition Glass Skin Artistry Mask so fans could recreate the look at home.
—Tracee Ellis Ross, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
Chirino, a cop of four years, had confronted Banegas for breaking into cars, prosecutors say.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Asia-Pacific markets advanced Monday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 breaking the 50,000 level for the first time.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
In a viral Reddit post, a dog owner revealed what her golden retriever did after breaking into their neighbors’ home, and internet users can’t stop laughing.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Yes, but Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission says that the option wasn’t revealed until consumers began the cancellation process, breaking consumer law.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Another study challenging the MICI scenario noted that breaking ice also tends to form a mélange, a dense, jumbled slurry of icebergs and sea ice.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking
Verb
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This groundbreaking method could transform the way researchers study complex diseases, including cancer, without disrupting natural cellular processes.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
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There has been a history of computer problems disrupting flights in the industry, though most of the time the disruptions are only temporary.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sabatini said that former President Ronald Reagan's doctrine included intervening on behalf of and supporting military governments with the intention of stopping the spread of communism.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Sabres goalie Alex Lyon had about as much chance of stopping the shot as an extra-large pepperoni and bacon stood of surviving a Friday night in the Kloke household.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Solutions like breathable film packaging and smart logistics play a crucial role in reducing waste and prolonging shelf life.—
William Jones,
Freep.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise, sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding sugar, eliminating tobacco, and curbing or skipping alcoholic beverages altogether, play a role in reducing early breast cancer recurrence.—
Marnie Goodfriend,
Flow Space,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though historians have called for further research before making claims, the proposal of a script rooted in sign language might open the chance to explore a new way of deciphering Mayan art and show the ancient civilization to be even more sophisticated and efficient than scholars even knew.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Sep. 2025
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Now, a team of international astronomers has succeeded in deciphering the gravitational wave signal, GW190412, to determine more about the collision and the resulting event that sent an infant black hole hurtling through space.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Barca team also participated — in defiance of their own club hierarchy — by pausing during the first 15 seconds of their match at home to Girona the previous day.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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The news in the whiskey industry has not been very good as of late—there have been layoffs, distilleries are pausing production, and overall sales figures have dropped as people are drinking less, spending less, and tariffs have wreaked havoc upon the market.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Singh has now been arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after plowing his big rig into slow-moving traffic on the I-10 Freeway in San Bernardino County.—
Jasmine Baehr , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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But the images of bulldozers plowing down the East Wing, which has housed the offices of the first lady and others in the White House, has drawn sharp criticism.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Court records state that on June 4, 2024, X suspended Plummer’s original account for violating its rules against violent speech.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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Brodie, whowas found guilty of violating American sanctions on Cuba in the early 2000s, was denied pardon by former President Joe Biden in 2023.—
Melanie Hicken,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For a spy thriller, the mechanics of solving this case aren’t terribly interesting.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
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Ziels believes some of nature’s tiniest organisms could play a massive role in solving major environmental challenges, especially as cities worldwide face mounting pressure around waste and clean energy.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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