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
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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
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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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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
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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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking up
Verb
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That decision now appears set to haunt them There were no discussions about ending Sterling’s loan early, and no clause to allow an early termination anyway.—
Jordan Campbell,
The Athletic,
16 Mar. 2025 -
Holiday season beginning after Thanksgiving and not ending until the last open house on New Year’s Day.—
Joyce Carol Oates,
The New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The director led the way past Dig HQ, past the two lichen-shaggy standing stones in the garden, and down a slope to Structure 27, Tam running ahead and stopping at the edge of the trench.—
Peter Ross,
Smithsonian Magazine,
8 Jan. 2025
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What’s stopping organizations from reaping the benefits of AI right now?—
Jesse Todd,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
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
-
Artificial intelligence is already disrupting numerous sectors across society.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In the photos, Williams can be seen smiling and laughing while wearing a black dress.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
12 Apr. 2025
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People couldn't stop laughing at the pup's acting performance, with some viewers even falling and defending his theatrics.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The choir leaned over him offering words of motivation, and rain doused the flames as Kirk Franklin marched up to a stage beating back smoke with an orange glow, like sunlight dissolving cloud cover.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2025
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Even some downstate Republicans oppose the movement, arguing that dissolving townships will lead to tax hikes.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Here are some key drug patents expiring soon.—
Bruce Gil,
Quartz,
24 Mar. 2025
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With his contract expiring in the summer of 2026, Palace must make serious efforts to tie their skipper down on a new deal, especially given the depth and quality in the squad behind Guehi is lacking.—
Carl Anka,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The objective is to rethink the way that end-of-life motorcycle equipment is handled, avoiding unnecessary waste by creating a sustainable and effective method of separating and recycling the plastics used to make helmets.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 Jan. 2025
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Go for swiveling storage like this or rotating jewelry boxes, which are ideal for separating smaller pieces (like earring studs) at the top and larger pieces (like brooches) at the bottom.—
Amelia Mularz,
Architectural Digest,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Commercial partnerships typically contain clauses that will see payments reduced upon relegation, some even ceasing.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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Yellow’s bankruptcy journey has lasted roughly 20 months, with the century-old less-than-truckload (LTL) company ceasing operations July 30, 2023.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
1 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Breaking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20up. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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