1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopped
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
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in disrupted
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
7
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of broke up
With the sides playing 3-on-3, Keller broke up the left wing and pushed past Claire Thompson.
—
John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Emmanwori broke up 11 passes this year.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
The group opened for Ray Charles in 1963 but broke up the following year.
—Andrew Dalton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Roope Hintz broke up Dostál’s shutout in the dying embers.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
After The Beatles broke up in 1970, Paul McCartney released two solo albums, but then sought to get back into a band setting.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2026
Antoine was called for a pass interference during Mississippi’s late TD drive but also broke up a pass that could have been a first down.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
In 2024, officials broke up a multistate trafficking operation based on the Crow reservation that distributed drugs to other Montana reservations.
—Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 8 Jan. 2026
Kelce and Nicole, 34, broke up multiple times throughout their five years together, and made several public comments and back-and-forths about each other on social media and in interviews over the years.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Emmanwori broke up 11 passes this year.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
The group opened for Ray Charles in 1963 but broke up the following year.
—Andrew Dalton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Roope Hintz broke up Dostál’s shutout in the dying embers.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
After The Beatles broke up in 1970, Paul McCartney released two solo albums, but then sought to get back into a band setting.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2026
Antoine was called for a pass interference during Mississippi’s late TD drive but also broke up a pass that could have been a first down.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
In 2024, officials broke up a multistate trafficking operation based on the Crow reservation that distributed drugs to other Montana reservations.
—Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 8 Jan. 2026
Kelce and Nicole, 34, broke up multiple times throughout their five years together, and made several public comments and back-and-forths about each other on social media and in interviews over the years.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke up
Verb
-
The Black Panthers officially disbanded in 1982, but their ideals carry on locally.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The legislation provides up to $5 million in nonlethal assistance for the struggling Haitian armed forces — the first congressional funding for the military since it was disbanded in the 1990s — and includes support for United Nations operations.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, freshman goalie Piper Tam stopped shot after shot, finishing with 33 saves and holding the Cougars off the board until late in the third period.—
Frank Rajkowski,
Twin Cities,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Shots stopped falling, turnovers crept in and possessions that had previously looked sharp dissolved into hurried attempts and empty trips.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Crest Canyon Crest Canyon, known as District X1A, is in the construction phase, which is divided into three work zones that run through September.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Today, its suites are divided between the Sands Collection, whose refreshed family collection is particularly well conceived, and the Paiza Collection.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bake cookies, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until slightly puffed and cracked, 11–15 minutes.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Feb. 2026
-
But the Broncos cracked the game open for good with a 10-0 run to take a 57-43 lead.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As nearly every country in Europe has significantly reduced or entirely ceased Russian energy imports, Hungary — an EU and NATO member — has maintained and even increased its supply of Russian oil and gas since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine in February 2022.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Oil imports from Venezuela have ceased since Washington toppled its leader last month, cutting Cuba’s main source of energy.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Economic and religious activities disrupted by DHS Muslims in Minneapolis, estimated now to be more than 100,000, have lived in the city for well over a century, and the city has embraced them.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
When breathing stops or becomes shallow, sleep is disrupted and the body may experience drops in oxygen.—
Sarah Jividen,
Verywell Health,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The crowd wasn’t fazed by Dillane being alone on stage and laughed often at his expletive-laced recollections on his career path.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
All my classmates laughed at me.—
Judith Levy,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Their ice maker expelled large clumps of wet salt, which, when rubbed, dissolved into an oily, foul-smelling substance.—
Nick Bowlin,
The Frontier,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Tostrud later dissolved the order, writing there was no evidence to justify its extension.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20up. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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