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
Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold cases and breaking news for USA TODAY.
—
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Aaron Judge slugged 62 home runs for the New York Yankees in 2022, breaking Roger Maris’ mythical American League record of 61 homers set in 1961.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 9 June 2026
Brown, previously convicted of armed robbery and felony larceny and breaking and entering, came back to court when he was supposed to, court records show.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
Trae Young won Madison Square Garden’s undying enmity in the 2021 playoffs for the Atlanta Hawks, punctuating game-breaking shots by shushing the crowd or bowing to the fans and waving goodbye.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
The New York Knicks lost Game 3 of the NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs last night, breaking their 13-game postseason winning streak.
—Margaux Bauerlein, NPR, 9 June 2026
Rafael is a crime and breaking news reporter at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
—Arkansas Online, 9 June 2026
Even those of us who aren’t actively breaking still feel the malaise.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
There are still additional threats to NCAR, including breaking it up, transferring other resources, and even selling its Boulder headquarters.
—ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Aaron Judge slugged 62 home runs for the New York Yankees in 2022, breaking Roger Maris’ mythical American League record of 61 homers set in 1961.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 9 June 2026
Brown, previously convicted of armed robbery and felony larceny and breaking and entering, came back to court when he was supposed to, court records show.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
Trae Young won Madison Square Garden’s undying enmity in the 2021 playoffs for the Atlanta Hawks, punctuating game-breaking shots by shushing the crowd or bowing to the fans and waving goodbye.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
The New York Knicks lost Game 3 of the NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs last night, breaking their 13-game postseason winning streak.
—Margaux Bauerlein, NPR, 9 June 2026
Rafael is a crime and breaking news reporter at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
—Arkansas Online, 9 June 2026
Even those of us who aren’t actively breaking still feel the malaise.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
There are still additional threats to NCAR, including breaking it up, transferring other resources, and even selling its Boulder headquarters.
—ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking
Verb
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In the bedroom, a Noguchi Akari lantern and antique French column topped with one of Gibbon’s ceramic vessels create a moment of interest without disrupting the room’s sense of calm.—
Kristen Flanagan,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
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If the current Gulf War, marked by controversy over control of the Strait of Hormuz, does not end soon, the conflict may shift from attacks on the transport of oil by sea to disrupting vital potable water resources.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Bussi got the nod after stopping 18 of 19 shots in relief of Andersen in Game 3 in the third period and two overtimes.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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Afterward, locals recommend stopping at Lake Hollywood Park for fresh fruit topped with Tajín and chamoy.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Verb
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This battery system will enable up to 12 hours of silent scientific operations powered entirely by batteries, reducing both emissions and underwater noise that can interfere with sensitive marine research.—
Dea Jusufi,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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According to the researchers, the catalyst weakens excessive bonding between iron sites and hydroxyl intermediates, allowing the reaction to proceed more smoothly and reducing one of the major bottlenecks in zinc-air battery operation.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Verb
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An education tent will provide free education and resources regarding topics from deciphering Title IX to end-of-life care and self-advocacy.—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
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Armed with an adventure kit, participants are summoned to a secret location where they’re tasked with deciphering cryptic codes, uncovering hidden symbols, navigating shifting alliances and outwit enemies and operatives stationed around the campus.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Verb
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King was the last player to clamber up the steps, pausing at the head of the vehicle before fixing his eyes on Bill Cartwright.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
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Trump announced Project Freedom in early May -- pausing the effort just two days later.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The discussion pinballed between other lingering issues with the property tax system upgrade that has been plowing along for more than ten years.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
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Instead, countries like Poland are plowing funds into their own defense firms.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Jiankui spent three years in prison and was fined three million yuan (about $430,000 at the time) for violating medical regulations.—
Laura Dattaro,
Scientific American,
10 June 2026
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The determination concludes a six-month investigation by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division into Davis Med’s admissions practices, which found the school guilty of violating a landmark 2023 Supreme Court decision that banned affirmative action in university admissions.—
Sophia Mandt,
The Washington Examiner,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Now a botanist and apothecary, Cadfael aids the local sheriff in solving all manner of crimes committed in and near Shrewsbury Abbey during England’s 15-year civil war known now as the Anarchy.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
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The protagonist’s obsession with solving the young girl’s apparent murder seems tied to events in her past, which al-Mansour and editors Rafael Nur and Steve Cohen introduce through dreamlike flashbacks.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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