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
The Lightning got the man advantage after Ivan Demidov broke in on Vasilevskiy, failed to score and was called for goalie interference.
—
ABC News, 1 May 2026
When the news broke in newspapers in Zimbabwe that the government was planning to cull 600 elephants, Krog made contact with the conservancy.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
On Wednesday, police responded to another home in Valley Glen, in the 6800 block of Vanscoy Avenue, where two people wearing gray hoodies broke in.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Selected by Chicago in the third round of the 1980 draft, the center broke in with the Blackhawks by playing one game as a 19-year-old during the 1981-82 season.
—Dylan Olsen, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
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
ABC News, 1 May 2026
When the news broke in newspapers in Zimbabwe that the government was planning to cull 600 elephants, Krog made contact with the conservancy.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
On Wednesday, police responded to another home in Valley Glen, in the 6800 block of Vanscoy Avenue, where two people wearing gray hoodies broke in.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Selected by Chicago in the third round of the 1980 draft, the center broke in with the Blackhawks by playing one game as a 19-year-old during the 1981-82 season.
—Dylan Olsen, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke in
Verb
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This would have come as news to the Highland Scots who invaded England in 1745 or the Irish Whiteboys who terrorized landlords and tax collectors a few decades later.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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The European Political Community summit was founded in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
4 May 2026
Verb
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At one point Blunt's character yells in exasperated, rapid-fire Italian at a protesting Versace when they're interrupted by Hathaway.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
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As Dearmon and Dayvault continue on, they’re interrupted by something special.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Velezquez was working at the Family Dollar store at the corner of Lawrence and Sawyer avenues on April 25, when two men robbed the store.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
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Prosecutors say Broadnax and his cousin, Demarius Cummings, fatally shot and robbed Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler in the parking lot of Butler’s recording studio in Garland.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Retirement advocates see any cap or cut in Social Security benefits as a slippery slope.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
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To temper those cuts in California, other groups proposed a new tax on billionaires that appears poised to qualify for the November ballot.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20in. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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