BROKE UP Synonyms: 279 Similar and Opposite Words

broke up

verb

past tense of break up

as in disbanded

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

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as in stopped

to come to an end the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed

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as in divided

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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as in cracked

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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as in ceased

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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as in disrupted

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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as in laughed

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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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 broke up Hoyos also praised defensive midfielder Yannick Bright, who broke up countless Cincinnati plays, stole passes and sent the ball into the attack time and time again. —

Miami Herald, 14 May 2026 The former couple broke up in 2018. —

Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 7 May 2026 By then, the Golden Knights recovered and broke up the play, and the Ducks never even got a shot on goal. —

Eric Stephens, New York Times, 5 May 2026 Joyce broke up Kiefer’s outs streak with a single down the first base line and Ryan singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. —

Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026 Four people were wounded in a shooting at the park in Arden Arcade, where several hundred people had gathered as law enforcement broke up the crowd. —

Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026 They got engaged in late 2023 but broke up the following year. —

Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 29 Apr. 2026 In addition to Michael's three kids, Jaafar also grew up at the estate with Katherine for 15 years; his parents, Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Oaziaza, broke up in 2004. —

Staff Author, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026 From a Fighting Ring to a Sanctuary Stage In 2025, authorities broke up a major cockfighting operation in Pennsylvania, rescuing around 300 chickens and filing more than 300 charges related to animal fighting and cruelty. —

Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke up

Verb

Police officials said Tuesday that the anti-gang unit would be temporarily disbanded while the department reviews the matter.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Vahl’s team is one of several cooperative teams set to be disbanded next fall due to an Illinois High School Association policy that disqualifies large cooperative teams from competing at the state level, according to Orland High School District 230 officials.

— Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026