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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke up
Verb
-
The federal cuts effectively disbanded the department’s Office of Language Acquisition, which oversees resources for these students.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2025 -
The Department of Justice also disbanded a team that seized the assets of Russian oligarchs.—
Erin Banco and Mari Saito,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Details matter, as the characters in Season 2 never stopped reminding us.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
-
In the first day or so after the snow stopped falling, Unified Government crews focused on clearing major thoroughfares.—
Alecia Taylor,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Most importantly, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1994 and ceased all political activities soon afterward.—
W. James Antle III,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The New York Giants’ high hopes for him last year quickly faded and completely ceased after the Giants lost in overtime to the Carolina Panthers in Germany — a game in which Jones only threw for 190 yards and was intercepted twice.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
After a season disrupted by injuries and fewer starts, the writing was on the wall.—
Julia Ranney,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Behind the scenes there was no doubt other dreams were dashed and processes disrupted.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Barrymore exclaimed, then laughed.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Meanwhile, the rest of the Netflix series cast on the Paley Center panel — Jay Ellis, Scott MacArthur and Drew Tarver — sat back and laughed at the malfunction.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Stir well until fully dissolved, then finish by adding a lemon-lime beverage of your choice.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Phil Mickelson admitted Friday that the tensions between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have not completely dissolved, despite ongoing negotiations between the two circuits.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
However, an avalanche, which claimed the lives of multiple sherpas in 2014, ended the shoot early.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
-
While the Heat’s losing skid continued, another streak ended.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Data held in qubits is affected by data held in other qubits, even when physically separated.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Then the dancers disappeared, too, except for Abraham and a couple, who separated and lapped the stage one last time before leaving.—
Jennifer Homans,
The New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2024
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.
Cite this Entry
“Broke up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20up. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share