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
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Recent Examples of breaking
Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
—
Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
Epic parties to kid-friendly fun Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter.
—Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 24 Dec. 2024
The wide receiver exploded into the NFL last year, breaking multiple records in his debut campaign for the Los Angeles Rams, a remarkable achievement for a fifth round pick out of BYU.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Without breaking stride, Hunter blew past four more Utah defenders and hopped into the end zone, a broken play transformed into a work of art.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
Lacking a tie-breaking vote could delay action at the FTC, such as when the commission was divided over 7-Eleven’s $21 billion purchase of Speedway stores in 2021.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Rebecca Cohen Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Minyvonne Burke Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
Epic parties to kid-friendly fun Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter.
—Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 24 Dec. 2024
The wide receiver exploded into the NFL last year, breaking multiple records in his debut campaign for the Los Angeles Rams, a remarkable achievement for a fifth round pick out of BYU.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Without breaking stride, Hunter blew past four more Utah defenders and hopped into the end zone, a broken play transformed into a work of art.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
Lacking a tie-breaking vote could delay action at the FTC, such as when the commission was divided over 7-Eleven’s $21 billion purchase of Speedway stores in 2021.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Rebecca Cohen Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Minyvonne Burke Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking
Verb
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The trade policy uncertainty continues to present significant challenges for business leaders, disrupting long-term planning, investment decisions, and global supply chain strategies.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
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Artificial intelligence is already disrupting numerous sectors across society.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After stopping the vehicle, Jackson reportedly ran from the car with a gun in his hand, according to court records.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2025
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The case stemmed from a Groveland police officer in September 2020 stopping a Lyft car for speeding and tag lights that weren’t working.—
Jim Saunders,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Companies and Customers are Leading As global markets prioritize clean technologies, major corporations are staying the course on their goals for reducing carbon pollution and propelling innovation.—
Mindy Lubber,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
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These chatbots can resolve common employee queries, automate ticket routing and provide 24/7 assistance, reducing dependency on support staff.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Even in districts that have staff dedicated to teaching Black history, some teachers are afraid of violating state law, according to Brian Knowles, who oversees African American, Holocaust and Latino studies for the Palm Beach County school district.—
Kate Payne,
Orlando Sentinel,
23 Dec. 2024
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That year, the campaign finance regulator separately found that Wyss’s groups failed to provide evidence of certain grant agreements upon conservatives accusing him of violating laws on foreign nationals making donations.—
Gabe Kaminsky,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
22 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Both retail and institutional interest led to holistic industry growth in 2024, driving new use cases and solving for real-world problems.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
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From generating code to enhancing security, AI tools are enabling developers to focus on solving complex problems while automating routine tasks.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is a $10 billion boondoggle that places a very expensive band-aid on a dying public school system.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Apr. 2025
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Sporting’s Joaquin Fernandez was lucky to not get sent off in the dying seconds of the opening half.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Three top concerns include elections and political turmoil that threaten progress, companies retreating or staying silent on DEI and ESG goals, and the rise of sustainability reporting that’s (temporarily) taking up companies’ time.—
Andrew Winston,
Harvard Business Review,
20 Dec. 2024
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Deporting millions of immigrants and retreating from global trade by implementing slogans like America First will not achieve these goals.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The five-day strike began Friday and initially shut down Starbucks locations in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle before spreading to stores across the country to culminate on Christmas Eve.—
Alysa Guffey,
The Indianapolis Star,
24 Dec. 2024
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Travis Scott is spreading holiday cheer in his hometown of Houston!—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
24 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Breaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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