BREAKS UP Synonyms: 269 Similar and Opposite Words

breaks up

verb

present tense third-person singular of break up

as in disbands

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

as in stops

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

as in divides

to set or force apart he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cracks

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

as in ceases

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disrupts

to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in laughs

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of breaks up Charles breaks up a fight between Russell Kind and Eli James and for the first time in history, Russell has a right to be angry. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026 When the ice breaks up in spring, the water in a lake begins what is commonly called a turnover. — Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026 So, for instance, in a situation where somebody is no longer with us or somebody leaves a band or a band breaks up. — Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 The new map breaks up the state’s current 9th Congressional District, which is primarily made up of Memphis, and the state’s only majority-Black district. — Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 7 May 2026 Sometimes your boyfriend breaks up with you to be with an older divorced mom and that's a good thing. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026 The Gap Factory Relaxed Linen-blend Wide-leg Pants, now 50 percent off, come in a vibrant hot pink that instantly breaks up a neutral-heavy suitcase and adds a playful pop for spring and summer itineraries. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026 Belly, devastated by the betrayal, slaps Jeremiah and breaks up with him. — Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025 Needless to say, Bobby breaks up with her later. — Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks up

Verb

The 10-team World Football League, citing lack of television and season ticket support, disbands before the 12th week of a 20-week season.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
And once the dog is found, the Search Party network disbands.

— Mike Feibus, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025

Definition of disbands

Verb

The question, posed during an on-court postgame interview, was when a young player stops measuring his performance by his point total and starts measuring it by the result.

— Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026
Even hair and makeup had to adapt, since traditional hair spray stops working properly in that cold.

— Max Gao, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of stops

Verb

From there, they’re eased gently into a bagel machine that divides the dough into rings.

— HubSpot, HubSpot, 30 Oct. 2026
The collapse of institutional rivalry The separation of powers divides authority among the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government to prevent too much power from becoming concentrated in any one place.

— Stephanie A, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of divides

Verb

In addition, under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, anyone who disrupts a nest of migratory birds — which barn owls are — can face fines and jail time.

— Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 3 Nov. 2026
Pretrial jailing disrupts families, destabilizes communities and increases the likelihood of recidivism, all of which clearly compromise — rather than protect — public safety.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of disrupts

Verb

The woman laughs every now and then and the man begins to almost sing between his puffs on his beedi.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
The author laughs ruefully when accused of his own version of nostalgia, admitting that the version of the airport he’s created feels closer to our present-day reality.

— Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of laughs

Verb

So the band dissolves and Tom goes off to work with Leon Russell, Al Kooper, and all these other great people.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
Nitric acid dissolves solid silver into silver ions, leaving recyclers with toxic nitrogen oxide emissions, acidic wastewater streams, and a complex chemical recovery process.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026