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
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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
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
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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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of broke up
The fictional pair broke up several times and co-parented their daughter, Mikayla, before reuniting in season 10 and getting engaged in season 11.
—
Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Faison and his girlfriend broke up because of the cheating, but, sharing a child, the two still lived together and were trying to work through their relationship, the girlfriend told police.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Which couples broke up in 'Love Is Blind' season 9?
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Oct. 2025
In fact, all three women were heartbreakers — a major vibe shift after the two couples who broke up early this season ended because of the men.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
Officials broke up the fisticuffs soon after.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 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
Love targeted Golden in the middle of the back of the end zone, but linebacker Jack Sanborn broke up the pass with, luckily for Green Bay, one second still on the clock.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
But the speakers broke up and distorted at this volume.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Faison and his girlfriend broke up because of the cheating, but, sharing a child, the two still lived together and were trying to work through their relationship, the girlfriend told police.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Which couples broke up in 'Love Is Blind' season 9?
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Oct. 2025
In fact, all three women were heartbreakers — a major vibe shift after the two couples who broke up early this season ended because of the men.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
Officials broke up the fisticuffs soon after.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 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
Love targeted Golden in the middle of the back of the end zone, but linebacker Jack Sanborn broke up the pass with, luckily for Green Bay, one second still on the clock.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
But the speakers broke up and distorted at this volume.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke up
Verb
-
The program was disbanded this fall.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
24 Oct. 2025
-
At the end of those 103 shows, the group essentially disbanded, Beckham said.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sage could have stopped there and given Shannon her consolation hug after winning the day by turning the tribe vote against her.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Her focus is less on the reason for the decline than on the question of why people—even close family members—stopped talking with one another.—
Alex Kotlowitz,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Phillips also asked that their assets be divided up by the court as separate property, with no indication in the papers that the exes had a prenup in place.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
But like other governer races, voters are divided along partisan lines.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Now, Italian researchers have finally cracked the case.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
-
For an unfussy dessert that’s actually meant to be burnt and cracked on the sides, make this cheesecake.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After building a little over 200 cars, TVR ceased production and hasn’t ever quite gotten going again.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Their tactics had long ceased to surprise me.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The reality is that all premium creative models in the moving-image space are being disrupted by low-cost ones, powered by AI, free platforms, and new forms of piracy.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Hurricane Melissa is expected to weaken over Jamaica as its inner core is disrupted by the mountainous terrain.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Foreign dignitaries and leaders openly laughed at the president during a 2018 United Nations General Assembly address.—
Betsy Klein,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Jeter quipped as Betts laughed.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a business is dissolved and its assets are sold to pay off creditors.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Not only was the Pride Lounge dismantled, but a lounge for students of color was dissolved, too, Sundaram said.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broke up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20up. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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