1
as in disbanding
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization
the band broke up when their arguments over money grew too stressful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ending
to come to an end
the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dividing
to set or force apart
he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in losing it
to yield to mental or emotional stress
the sort of person who would be among the first to break up in a prisoner of war camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in stopping
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in disrupting
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad
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7
as in laughing
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
if you break up during the skit, the audience will know that you're in on the joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breaking up
Horn and Jackson traded highlights, with Horn collecting two acrobatics interceptions off Taylor, and Jackson breaking up a pair of crucial passes.
—
Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2025
Ratner notes that acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill has suggested breaking up the standard measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three separate shots, which Ratner says is neither feasible nor is it backed by data.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
Stir, and cook, stirring and breaking up meat into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 2 minutes.
—Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
In September 2024, Jane’s Addiction came to an abrupt and explosive end during a Boston concert when Farrell punched guitarist Dave Navarro onstage, an incident that resulted in the reunion tour’s immediate cancellation, the band breaking up, and now a pair of lawsuits.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
Video on social media showed the explosion and its aftermath as remains of the spacecraft were seen breaking up in what looked like a stunning meteor shower.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
Ed is left alone on the farm after impulsively killing that brother (whose actual death might have been accidental) for breaking up the family unit and, the next year, losing Augusta to complications from a stroke.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
This is the first time the former couple have been seen in public together since breaking up in July.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Lopez and Affleck first dated in 2002 and got engaged before breaking up and then reconnecting in 2021, getting married the following year and divorcing last year.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025
Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2025
Ratner notes that acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill has suggested breaking up the standard measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three separate shots, which Ratner says is neither feasible nor is it backed by data.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
Stir, and cook, stirring and breaking up meat into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 2 minutes.
—Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
In September 2024, Jane’s Addiction came to an abrupt and explosive end during a Boston concert when Farrell punched guitarist Dave Navarro onstage, an incident that resulted in the reunion tour’s immediate cancellation, the band breaking up, and now a pair of lawsuits.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
Video on social media showed the explosion and its aftermath as remains of the spacecraft were seen breaking up in what looked like a stunning meteor shower.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
Ed is left alone on the farm after impulsively killing that brother (whose actual death might have been accidental) for breaking up the family unit and, the next year, losing Augusta to complications from a stroke.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
This is the first time the former couple have been seen in public together since breaking up in July.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Lopez and Affleck first dated in 2002 and got engaged before breaking up and then reconnecting in 2021, getting married the following year and divorcing last year.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking up
Verb
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From there, Hansen and his bandmates determined the best course of action, and discussions even arose about disbanding the group, which had formed in 1976.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
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The new Search Party feature is designed with privacy in mind, only sharing potential dog sightings and disbanding the network once the pet is found.—
Mike Feibus,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The game marked the NBA’s formal return to NBC, ending a hiatus of 8,532 days since the last time an American pro basketball game that counts was broadcast on the network.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
22 Oct. 2025
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The partnership with Sephora marked Rhode’s first foray into retail, with net sales topping $212 million in the 12 months ending March 31.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Discussions have been held about dividing Madrid’s football operations from their business operations and letting speculators invest in the latter — although how (or if) that would work in practice is a moot point.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Needless to say, its overload of ideas — all rooted in reality, and true to the moment — did not land to universal praise, dividing audiences in the way that big, experimental films often tend to on the Riviera.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The metro Detroit rallies have advocated for causes including stopping immigration crackdowns, stopping authoritarianism, health care, maintaining a positive relationship with Canada amid tariffs, declaring Detroit a sanctuary city, stopping deaths in Gaza and more.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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Nihi has 25 of Sumba’s beloved sandalwood horses, released from their stable once a day to run free through the shallows, stopping to roll around in the sand and nip at each other.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But despite the Raiders’ slow start, Crosby remains the one player capable of disrupting that surge, near single-handedly.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
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So far, more than four thousand employees have been laid off, disrupting government services devoted to, among other things, cybersecurity efforts, special-education programs, substance-abuse treatment, and loans for small businesses.—
Andy Kroll,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To promote the line, Blakely would travel across the country and was interviewed by every DJ who loved laughing and talking about the word Spanx, who were mostly men.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
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Cartman starts laughing so hard that he projectile vomits all over Thiel.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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From there, the latest forecast track suggests Lorenzo could loop back on itself before dissolving.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
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After dissolving their own three-person police force, the village has struggled to find a way to enforce village laws, the mayor said.—
Erin Glynn,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Policyholders with expiring contracts could lose coverage and funds to pay claims have dropped $30 billion due to the shutdown.—
NPR,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2025
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Legislators have been at a stalemate over expiring healthcare funding and tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, USA TODAY reported.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20up. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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