1
as in invaded
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 interrupted
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 broke in
Off a bad change by the B’s, Timo Meier broke in alone but Korpisalo thwarted his first shot and just managed to get his pad down to smother Meier’s follow-up.
—
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
The center broke in with the Hawks by playing one game as a 19-year-old during the 1981-82 season.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
News broke in June 2025 that Allman was taken to a hospital in San Bernardino County for demonstrating erratic behavior after authorities received a disturbance call.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Given the behind the scenes drama that has enveloped CBS News since Ellison took over Paramount Skydance, the mood was grim at CNN after the news broke in real time Thursday.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
Oakland County officials provided this map of road closures and detours as repairs continue in the area of a 42-inch water main that broke in September 2025.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
News broke in August that a portable shelter owned by the schools was gifted to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, to be used at the Alligator Alcatraz detention camp.
—Thomas Kennedy, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
News of Christopher’s pending arrival broke in June, when People published photos of Grammer and Walsh, who appeared heavily pregnant at the time.
—Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
The brazen daytime heist at the museum last Sunday stunned France, when four men, dressed as workmen, broke in through an upper floor window using a ladder on a moving truck.
—Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 26 Oct. 2025
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
The center broke in with the Hawks by playing one game as a 19-year-old during the 1981-82 season.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
News broke in June 2025 that Allman was taken to a hospital in San Bernardino County for demonstrating erratic behavior after authorities received a disturbance call.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Given the behind the scenes drama that has enveloped CBS News since Ellison took over Paramount Skydance, the mood was grim at CNN after the news broke in real time Thursday.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
Oakland County officials provided this map of road closures and detours as repairs continue in the area of a 42-inch water main that broke in September 2025.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
News broke in August that a portable shelter owned by the schools was gifted to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, to be used at the Alligator Alcatraz detention camp.
—Thomas Kennedy, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
News of Christopher’s pending arrival broke in June, when People published photos of Grammer and Walsh, who appeared heavily pregnant at the time.
—Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
The brazen daytime heist at the museum last Sunday stunned France, when four men, dressed as workmen, broke in through an upper floor window using a ladder on a moving truck.
—Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke in
Verb
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Penn's support for Ukraine dates back to 2022 Penn has long advocated for Ukraine and even gifted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an Oscar in 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine and the two countries went to war.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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The all-time high for the most consumers have ever paid for gasoline was in the summer of 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine.—
Cecilia Vega,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But that unseasonable heat was quickly interrupted by a strong cold front that flipped Central Texas temperatures from summer swelter into winter chill literally overnight.—
Roberto Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Mar. 2026
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Then, the repetitive descending melody is interrupted and restarts; in this musical rupture the trance is broken.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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New York Police Department Police said that, less than an hour later, the three women robbed a Gorjana store one block over on North 6th Street.—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Similarly, the movie’s just desserts are completely bland, since they’re constantly robbed of real stakes when folks being dismembered can just walk it off and try again.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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No cuts in 2026 — or even a hike?—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Zumwinkle darted along the left wall, cut in along the goal line and flicked a shot behind goaltended Kayle Osborne that deflected off the crossbar and into the net to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead just past the midway point in the first period.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20in. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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