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
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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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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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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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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke up
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Barrymore exclaimed, then laughed.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
13 Mar. 2025
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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
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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
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However, an avalanche, which claimed the lives of multiple sherpas in 2014, ended the shoot early.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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While the Heat’s losing skid continued, another streak ended.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Data held in qubits is affected by data held in other qubits, even when physically separated.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Broke up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20up. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
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