as in splits
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces
the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism pretty much signaled the end of the Cold War
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Recent Examples of breakups
Rookie cornerbacks Jadon Canady and Mansoor Delane registered pass breakups during team drills, and third-year cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace batted down a pass at the line early in the workout.
—
Pete Sweeney
may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Woodson had an interception and six pass breakups in just four postseason games.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
The show’s storylines have largely revolved around drunken fights, messy breakups, hookups and cheating allegations while occasionally weaving in more serious conversations about race, mental health and fractured childhoods.
—Pilar Melendez, NBC news, 27 May 2026
Though not necessarily in it for the long haul, iconic pairings like Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt or Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake captured the attention of millions around the world—as did their breakups.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 23 May 2026
Friends and family members also told investigators that Shirilla and Russo’s relationship had become strained in the months before the crash, marked by arguments and breakups, with some describing Shirilla as possessive in the relationship.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Evidently, breakups do not always make for the best music.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
But the bigger purpose of this residency is to celebrate not just an album but a career that survived romantic breakups, solo stardom for Stefani, tentative reunions and now a deserved victory lap.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 7 May 2026
An emo band whose members might otherwise now be at their most stable and content, they still seem authentically driven by unbridled, urgent emotion—only now their breakups involve lawyers, and the friendship drama occurs between people who rely on each other for income.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026
Pete Sweeney
may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Woodson had an interception and six pass breakups in just four postseason games.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
The show’s storylines have largely revolved around drunken fights, messy breakups, hookups and cheating allegations while occasionally weaving in more serious conversations about race, mental health and fractured childhoods.
—Pilar Melendez, NBC news, 27 May 2026
Though not necessarily in it for the long haul, iconic pairings like Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt or Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake captured the attention of millions around the world—as did their breakups.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 23 May 2026
Friends and family members also told investigators that Shirilla and Russo’s relationship had become strained in the months before the crash, marked by arguments and breakups, with some describing Shirilla as possessive in the relationship.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Evidently, breakups do not always make for the best music.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
But the bigger purpose of this residency is to celebrate not just an album but a career that survived romantic breakups, solo stardom for Stefani, tentative reunions and now a deserved victory lap.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 7 May 2026
An emo band whose members might otherwise now be at their most stable and content, they still seem authentically driven by unbridled, urgent emotion—only now their breakups involve lawyers, and the friendship drama occurs between people who rely on each other for income.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breakups
Noun
-
Reverse splits reduce the number of outstanding shares by combining existing shares into fewer shares while proportionately increasing the price, though not affecting the company’s total value.—
David Capablanca,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Radial cracking refers to vertical splits, while concentric cracking refers to splits that form in a circular pattern around the fruit’s stem.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
The trailer teased screaming matches, tears, accusations of betrayal and clear dissolutions of multiple relationships — both romantic and platonic.—
Pilar Melendez,
NBC news,
27 May 2026
-
There could be more dissolutions and consolidations in the future.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Thoughtful details include four handles, making the bags a breeze to move, as well as partitions sewn to the bottom to avoid root entanglement.—
Quincy Bulin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2026
-
Roberts opened up the space by taking down office partitions in the roughly 1,500-square-foot store, 3941 Park Drive, Suite 80.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Although Schwarze ultimately prevailed, the party’s divisions were on display as the endorsement battle dragged on through six ballots.—
Jay Gabler,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
-
The league is huge, with 158 teams split into 20 regional divisions across four conferences.—
PJ Green
May 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
The world must stop treating these separations as temporary wartime tragedies and begin preparing for the long search that many families may face.—
Sara Huston,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
Each turn in Cuba’s postrevolutionary history changed the trajectory of Ferrer’s family, leading repeatedly to separations and reunions and reassessments of their relationship to the country.—
Geraldo L. Cadava,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Given the schisms, some in the GOP believe only a single party-line bill may end up passing before November.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
But over the past decade or so, major schisms have emerged.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breakups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breakups. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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