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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of broke up
Married Zack Goytowski and Bliss Poureetezadi had one of the stranger journeys on Love Is Blind, mainly because Zack initially broke up with Bliss in favor of Irina Solomonova, who proved herself to be perhaps the meanest contestant in the show's history.
—
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
The Replacements broke up in 1991, though Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson toured together under the band name from 2013-15.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Linebacker Jack Sanborn broke up Love’s pass to Golden, and the ball immediately hit the ground.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
But the speakers broke up and distorted at this volume.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
The couple ultimately broke up, and the fashion influencer noted that was a storyline that was difficult to share.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Police reported Sunday there was no evidence of shots being fired; however, officers broke up several fights among juveniles while on scene.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
On the other side of the ball, Flowers, a defensive back, broke up a pass in the waning minutes.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Styles was most recently linked to Taylor Russell, though the three-time Grammy winner and the Bones and All actress, 31, broke up in May 2024 after less than a year of dating.
—Jen Juneau, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
The Replacements broke up in 1991, though Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson toured together under the band name from 2013-15.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Linebacker Jack Sanborn broke up Love’s pass to Golden, and the ball immediately hit the ground.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
But the speakers broke up and distorted at this volume.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
The couple ultimately broke up, and the fashion influencer noted that was a storyline that was difficult to share.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Police reported Sunday there was no evidence of shots being fired; however, officers broke up several fights among juveniles while on scene.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
On the other side of the ball, Flowers, a defensive back, broke up a pass in the waning minutes.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Styles was most recently linked to Taylor Russell, though the three-time Grammy winner and the Bones and All actress, 31, broke up in May 2024 after less than a year of dating.
—Jen Juneau, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke up
Verb
-
Utah, a former member, disbanded its beach volleyball program earlier this year.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Swisher said his association disbanded their task force after renderers started taking theft precautions.—
Nick Ferraro,
Boston Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But as the months have passed, Juni has stopped stashing food, loves to nap, and seems so much more at ease.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Carelessness and accidents happen, however, so take some time with each season to go through items and toss anything that’s faded, shattered, or stopped working.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While the agents' colleagues were divided over the move at the time, the Bureau, under then-Director Christopher Wray, conducted a review and did not find grounds for discipline, CNN reports.—
Huo Jingnan,
NPR,
27 Sep. 2025
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The park encompasses 134 miles of that stretch and is divided into 13 distinct sections.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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So, in an instant, Zeek twisted and pushed the barrel aside, but the robber grabbed his shoulder, firing a shot that cracked through the quiet.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
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The moment that cracked the tension came on the 18th hole.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Icelandic carrier Play Airlines ceased operations and cancelled all remaining flights around the globe over the weekend, the airline announced Sunday.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Sep. 2025
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In 2014, Keegan founded the spiritual community center Full Circle Venice, which has since seemingly ceased operations.—
Sophie Dodd,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As Congress inches closer to a possible government shutdown, many federal services North Carolinians depend on might be disrupted.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The evacuation disrupted regular campus activities and prompted swift coordination between school administrators and law enforcement.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Zaya held an award while Wade smiled, laughed and hugged his daughter.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
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Martin laughed this week when asked to approximate the number of hours he’s allocated to this.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The country is undergoing a regulatory overhaul since Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad dissolved parliament in 2024, with reforms accompanied by purging citizenships the government says were fraudulently obtained, though rights groups say political opponents have also been targeted.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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Rolsky agrees with many others that these PVA remnants are too dissolved to define them as microplastics—but for him, that’s precisely the problem.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broke up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20up. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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