Synonyms of break
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as in to disrupt 
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as in to stop
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as in to reduce
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as in to decipher
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as in to pause
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as in to plow
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as in to violate
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as in to solve
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as in to damage
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as in to die
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as in to retreat
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as in to wear
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as in to circulate
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as in to ruin
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as in to begin
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as in to veer
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as in to depress
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as in to exceed
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as in to surface
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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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as in pause
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as in vacation
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as in gap
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as in opportunity
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as in accident
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as in escape
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Example Sentences
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Phrases Containing
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Entries Near
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Related Articles
1
as in to disrupt
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 to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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3
as in to reduce
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 to decipher
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 to pause
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
7
as in to violate
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 to solve
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 to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in to die
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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11
as in to retreat
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 to wear
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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13
as in to circulate
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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14
15
as in to begin
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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16
as in to veer
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 to depress
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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18
as in to exceed
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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1
as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity
there was a brief break after the first movement as the doors to the concert hall were opened and the latecomers were allowed in
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2
as in vacation
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended
most of the students at the boarding school are going home for Christmas break
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3
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
the rancher repaired the break in the fence where the horse had gotten through
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4
5
as in accident
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events
a guy who just seems to get all the breaks in life
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6
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
a desperate break from that hellhole
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in dying
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
15
as in originating
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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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
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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 break
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
There were routes in which Brown broke inside, and a defender was awaiting.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2025
Alcaraz broke Sinner five times compared to just one break for the Italian.
—Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Sarah Jones, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Marlene Lenthang Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break
Verb
After that, Alcaraz brought the hammer down with his otherwise impenetrable delivery, which was broken only three times across the tournament.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
There were routes in which Brown broke inside, and a defender was awaiting.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
At the same time, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is among those who forecast 50% of entry-level jobs may be wiped out by AI as the technology improves, including being able to work eight-hour shifts without a break.
—Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2025
Alcaraz broke Sinner five times compared to just one break for the Italian.
—Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Marlene Lenthang Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Noun
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This pause led to a more strategic decision that ultimately benefited the company.—
Naz Beheshti,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Job hopping has hit a pause as employees who might have left their companies previously are no longer able to find higher wages, according to a recent report from Bank of America.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Between flights, unpredictable weather, and a packed itinerary, vacations can come with a lot of variables.—
Rachel Trujillo,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
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Remind your team that PTO doesn’t require a vacation destination.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For borrowers in their second or third year of college worried about getting across the finish line, Pierce recommends speaking with financial aid offices to access grants or cheaper loans to fill gaps.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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And Russia, already emboldened, will see the gap between rhetoric and capability as permanent.—
Brett Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For instance, when the Martins were broke, before Christy gained the attention of legendary boxing promoter Don King, Jim, played on screen in a terrifying performance by Ben Foster, would take her to motel rooms to spar with men who would pay for the opportunity.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
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More tackles and fouls will naturally occur in games where the team has less of the ball, with more opportunities to make those defensive actions.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Initially dismissed as an accident, Charles, Oliver and Mabel dive headfirst into the investigation, uncovering a sprawling conspiracy that stretches beyond the building’s walls and entangles New York’s old mob families with its newest billionaires.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
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Damaged airbags also may fail to deploy in case of accidents.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That blockbuster, which Alcaraz won after a Houdini escape, has been followed by two solid sequels.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Consider booking a room at Hotel Atwater or the cliffside Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel for a truly memorable escape.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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After the current storm lull during the end of August and early September due in part to dusty, dry air and cool water in Hurricane Erin's wake, the threat of tropical cyclones is favored to return by the second half of the month and into October and even November, Merrill said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
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Shrek is in a monotonous lull with his kids, Fiona, Donkey, and even Puss in Boots.—
Skyler Trepel September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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My three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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After a two-week nomination period due to the Labor Day holiday, The Tennessean received five responses from guidance counselors, coaches, teachers and principals.—
Gabrielle Chenault,
Nashville Tennessean,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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