1
as in invading
to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent
the burglars broke in by smashing a window
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in interrupting
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion
he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breaking in
Frightened by the thought of breaking in your jeans?
—
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Settling Manning down — as well as a host of inexperienced starters on offense that includes breaking in four guys on the O-line — would go a long way toward Texas looking like the team that came into this season with such lofty expectations.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Many locals already have tight circles, and breaking in takes patience and persistence.
—Cepee Tabibian, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
The Italian was the first to shake up the scoreboard, breaking in the fifth and then holding serve for a 4-2 lead.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Pushing and carrying and pulling heavy weights taught me to get comfortable with breaking in order to become stronger, more resilient.
—Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
At left guard and left tackle, the offense is breaking in a second-year player who’s a former tackle and a rookie in San Diego’s Josh Simmons, who last played a regular-season game in October.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
And also, at the exact same moment, your heart is breaking in half because one day, lots of days, actually, your child is going to go out and enjoy that absolutely beautiful, mind-blowing, magical world.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Settling Manning down — as well as a host of inexperienced starters on offense that includes breaking in four guys on the O-line — would go a long way toward Texas looking like the team that came into this season with such lofty expectations.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Many locals already have tight circles, and breaking in takes patience and persistence.
—Cepee Tabibian, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
The Italian was the first to shake up the scoreboard, breaking in the fifth and then holding serve for a 4-2 lead.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Pushing and carrying and pulling heavy weights taught me to get comfortable with breaking in order to become stronger, more resilient.
—Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
At left guard and left tackle, the offense is breaking in a second-year player who’s a former tackle and a rookie in San Diego’s Josh Simmons, who last played a regular-season game in October.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
And also, at the exact same moment, your heart is breaking in half because one day, lots of days, actually, your child is going to go out and enjoy that absolutely beautiful, mind-blowing, magical world.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking in
Verb
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Licensing officials also investigated educators accused of grooming behaviors like flirting with children, spending non-school time alone and isolated with students, or invading students’ personal space by rubbing their shoulders, thighs and lower backs.—
Danielle DuClos,
jsonline.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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Additionally, the invading trees and shrubs also compete with prairie plants for light, water, and space, often pushing the grassland plants out of the way and diminishing the habitat options available to animals that depend on native plants.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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An early appearance from the Editor means premature evaluation — a mind interrupting itself just as the creative thoughts were getting fun.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Oct. 2025
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As in Bennett’s other works, vagueness manifests in the book’s sentences, which have a habit of interrupting themselves, thoughts popping in and out with the regularity of a real-life interior monologue.—
Rhian Sasseen,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The man tried to escape, but the group followed him, knocked him to the ground and continued attacking him before robbing him of his watch and shoes, prosecutors said.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
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The series also links Gein — who confessed to killing two women, robbing countless graves and making items of the body parts of his victims — to both the sensation about true crime stories and to many horror films that featured over-the-top killers.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20in. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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