Synonyms of break
-
as in to disrupt 
-
as in to stop
-
as in to reduce
-
as in to decipher
-
as in to pause
-
as in to plow
-
as in to violate
-
as in to solve
-
as in to damage
-
as in to die
-
as in to retreat
-
as in to wear
-
as in to circulate
-
as in to ruin
-
as in to begin
-
as in to veer
-
as in to depress
-
as in to exceed
-
as in to surface
-
as in disrupted
-
as in ended
-
as in demoted
-
as in deciphered
-
as in paused
-
as in plowed
-
as in violated
-
as in solved
-
as in damaged
-
as in died
-
as in retreated
-
as in wore
-
as in circulated
-
as in ruined
-
as in began
-
as in veered
-
as in reduced
-
as in exceeded
-
as in surfaced
-
as in pause
-
as in vacation
-
as in gap
-
as in opportunity
-
as in accident
-
as in escape
-
as in impoverished
-
Example Sentences
-
Phrases Containing
-
Entries Near
-
Related Articles
1
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reduce
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to decipher
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to pause
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
7
as in to violate
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in to die
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in to wear
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in to circulate
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
15
as in to begin
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
16
as in to veer
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
17
as in to depress
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
18
as in to exceed
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity
there was a brief break after the first movement as the doors to the concert hall were opened and the latecomers were allowed in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vacation
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended
most of the students at the boarding school are going home for Christmas break
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
the rancher repaired the break in the fence where the horse had gotten through
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in accident
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events
a guy who just seems to get all the breaks in life
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
a desperate break from that hellhole
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
too broke to afford even a used car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in disrupted
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ended
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demoted
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deciphered
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in paused
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in plowed
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in violated
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in solved
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in died
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in retreated
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in wore
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in circulated
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
as in ruined
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
15
as in began
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
16
as in veered
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
18
as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 break
Dr. Roshini Raj, Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Indiana Democrats lack the ability to break quorum and disrupt legislative processes, like their counterparts in Texas are currently doing, Pierce told anchor Kate Bolduan.
—Indianapolis Star, IndyStar, 7 Aug. 2025
Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Brazil equalised with a penalty on the stroke of half-time and took the initiative on the other side of the break, but suffered a setback due to a freak own goal.
—Neel Shelat, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
Song toys with broken hearts being as interchangeable as being literally financially broke.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 June 2025
Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Dec. 2024
But then the defense broke again on the Blue run.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for break
Verb
Because your body cannot fully break down fiber, your gut produces bacteria to break it down and ferment it.
—Dr. Roshini Raj, Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Indiana Democrats lack the ability to break quorum and disrupt legislative processes, like their counterparts in Texas are currently doing, Pierce told anchor Kate Bolduan.
—Indianapolis Star, IndyStar, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
Ojeda found Muriel on the break and played him through to calmly place it past Necaxa goalkeeper Ezequiel Unsain as Orlando went into halftime up 4-0.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Brazil equalised with a penalty on the stroke of half-time and took the initiative on the other side of the break, but suffered a setback due to a freak own goal.
—Neel Shelat, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
But Lucy is a pragmatist, recalling an anniversary fight with John when they were broke and unhappy.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
Song toys with broken hearts being as interchangeable as being literally financially broke.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 June 2025
Verb
After the news of Zuckerberg’s bunker broke, other one-percenters followed suit.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Dec. 2024
But then the defense broke again on the Blue run.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for break
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Noun
-
The pause will not impact already existing valid visas, according to the memo, and some applications — including official and C-3 diplomatic visas — will continue to be processed.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Trim Non-Customer-Facing Costs Start by trimming non-customer-facing costs, including rent and travel, and pause hiring.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Some of the images feature the pair in picturesque vacation spots while others appear to be snapped at home.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Access to a good court while on vacation is non-negotiable.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Yet regardless of the device or price point, a gap remains in the investment that most companies are making in technology to support remote work for their rank-and-file employees.—
Melody Brue,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Frank often asks one of his centre-backs to push ahead of the other, which could leave gaps for top opposition to exploit, but Spurs have the athleticism to make up for it in Romero, Van de Ven, and Kevin Danso.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Internal talent marketplaces promised a new era—matching employees to opportunities in real time, breaking down silos and reducing reliance on personal networks.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
From the Mississippi Freedom Movement to various Rainbow Coalitions, collaboration and coalition-building across social positions—despite the challenges and potential for tension—attract participants with a wider toolkit of resources, opportunities, and tactics.—
Time,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Swift does little by accident, and fans instantly started speculating that something would be revealed on the 12th day of the month at 12:12 a.m.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
12 Aug. 2025
-
The cause of the accident wasn’t immediately clear on Tuesday afternoon.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Few warm-weather escapes are complete without plenty of pool time–and the resort’s Baia delle Palme pool, an expansive aquatic zone, raises the bar for splish-splashy fun in the sun.—
Alexandra Kirkman,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
What begins as a brief detour spirals into a surreal escape where time, desire, and reality begin to unravel.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Having two of the three most impoverished cities, especially when those cities are experiencing booming population growth, is its own kind of economic miracle, if an ignominious one.—
Kathryn Anne Edwards,
Mercury News,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The eye-popping dollar figures in the statements contrast with everything else happening on an impoverished island, where people spend much of their time without electricity and many still depend on meager food rations to survive.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
It’s already been four years since the last James Bond movie, Daniel Craig’s Bond swan song, No Time to Die, was released in theaters, and, in that lull, there’s still no new actor cast as James Bond.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2025
-
His teammates have tapered off into a midsummer lull, though.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share