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
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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
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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
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Recent Examples of breaking up
Cook, stirring often and breaking up meat, until beef is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
—
Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
If that's correct, then not enough time has passed for solar radiation to have cleared out all the dust sprayed into space by the asteroid breaking up.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Even if Senate Republicans conceded to breaking up the funding package, the bills would be kicked back to the House of Representatives, which is on a weeklong recess.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Both played well in the postseason, too, with Durant intercepting three passes and breaking up seven more and Curl making a big impact in the divisional victory over the Chicago Bears, not least of all with an overtime interception.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
In the series, Missal's character gets involved with married professor Oliver after breaking up with her boyfriend, Evan.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Summer House stars Amanda Batula and Kyle Cooke are breaking up.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2026
Kendricks wound up making the game-saving play by breaking up the fourth-down pass to Goedert.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Officials say the tornado traveled a little more than 1 mile for seven minutes before breaking up.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
If that's correct, then not enough time has passed for solar radiation to have cleared out all the dust sprayed into space by the asteroid breaking up.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Even if Senate Republicans conceded to breaking up the funding package, the bills would be kicked back to the House of Representatives, which is on a weeklong recess.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Both played well in the postseason, too, with Durant intercepting three passes and breaking up seven more and Curl making a big impact in the divisional victory over the Chicago Bears, not least of all with an overtime interception.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
In the series, Missal's character gets involved with married professor Oliver after breaking up with her boyfriend, Evan.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Summer House stars Amanda Batula and Kyle Cooke are breaking up.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2026
Kendricks wound up making the game-saving play by breaking up the fourth-down pass to Goedert.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Officials say the tornado traveled a little more than 1 mile for seven minutes before breaking up.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking up
Verb
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These earlier massacres also made the SDF hesitant about completely disbanding immediately, as Sharaa continues to demand.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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The Bruins played in the American Basketball League through the 1930-31 season before disbanding, then were revived for the National Basketball League.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Powell this week oversees his third-to-last meeting as chair, with his term ending on May 15.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
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With the deadline approaching, a stake sale may be considered in the fiscal year ending March 2027.—
Ashutosh Joshi,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile the question of whether events contracts on sports amount to financial derivatives or gambling is dividing the sports gambling industry — and tying federal courts in knots.—
Alex Sherman,Contessa Brewer,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The clearance rate is calculated by dividing the number of homicide cases opened in a year by the number of homicide cases closed in a year.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The controversy began at the end of a planning and zoning meeting last Thursday, when the council member raised concerns about Border Patrol agents stopping people in the community.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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States such as Minnesota should also look to civil law as a basis for stopping baleful and unlawful ICE tactics.—
Aziz Huq,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors have accused them of civil rights violations for disrupting the Cities Church service.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Wild weather is disrupting daily life — impacting homes, schools, and roadways.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ways to do that include cold showers, taking a nature walk, laughing, taking deep breaths, listening to something relaxing, or humming to yourself.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
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No one spoke until Chuky shuddered his head and this time without laughing said, Shit, that’s crazy.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The 3-2 vote by the Rules Committee followed a more than five-hour, sometimes emotional hearing that drew hundreds of proponents and critics who pleaded their case, with some vacation rental hosts dissolving into tears.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Jan. 2026
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Unlike a vasectomy, in which the vas deferens is cut and sealed, the implant is designed to be temporary, with the water-soluble gel dissolving naturally after two years.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Among current members of the roster who potentially could fetch a first-round pick at next week‘s deadline are Norman Powell, with his expiring contract at the end of the year, and Andrew Wiggins, who holds a player option for next season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
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For weeks, Democrats withheld their votes from a short-term funding measure to reopen the government without a deal to extend expiring health insurance subsidies.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20up. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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