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
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Recent Examples of broke up
Joyce broke up Kiefer’s outs streak with a single down the first base line and Ryan singled to put runners on first and second with no outs.
—
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Four people were wounded in a shooting at the park in Arden Arcade, where several hundred people had gathered as law enforcement broke up the crowd.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
They got engaged in late 2023 but broke up the following year.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 29 Apr. 2026
In addition to Michael's three kids, Jaafar also grew up at the estate with Katherine for 15 years; his parents, Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Oaziaza, broke up in 2004.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
From a Fighting Ring to a Sanctuary Stage In 2025, authorities broke up a major cockfighting operation in Pennsylvania, rescuing around 300 chickens and filing more than 300 charges related to animal fighting and cruelty.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
Miami's Liam Hicks broke up the shutout in the eighth with a two-run homer.
—CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
The band broke up in 1999 after Alexander lost interest in performing — one perfect song and out.
—Ryan Brennan
april 8, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
The band broke up in 2001 but reunited in 2014 — though no subsequent music came close to replicating the song’s chart success.
—Ryan Brennan
april 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Four people were wounded in a shooting at the park in Arden Arcade, where several hundred people had gathered as law enforcement broke up the crowd.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
They got engaged in late 2023 but broke up the following year.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 29 Apr. 2026
In addition to Michael's three kids, Jaafar also grew up at the estate with Katherine for 15 years; his parents, Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Oaziaza, broke up in 2004.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
From a Fighting Ring to a Sanctuary Stage In 2025, authorities broke up a major cockfighting operation in Pennsylvania, rescuing around 300 chickens and filing more than 300 charges related to animal fighting and cruelty.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
Miami's Liam Hicks broke up the shutout in the eighth with a two-run homer.
—CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
The band broke up in 1999 after Alexander lost interest in performing — one perfect song and out.
—Ryan Brennan
april 8, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
The band broke up in 2001 but reunited in 2014 — though no subsequent music came close to replicating the song’s chart success.
—Ryan Brennan
april 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke up
Verb
-
After the Ronettes disbanded, Ross continued to release music solo.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The group, however, eventually disbanded because many of its members enlisted in the Union Army.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a preliminary injunction, Judge Robert Pitman stopped short of ordering a temporary air conditioning remedy.—
Leigh Waldman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Swayman stopped the puck but had to freeze it for a defensive-zone faceoff.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Managers of various water agencies still need to negotiate the specifics of how the water cuts will be divided between cities and farming areas.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
The 268 guest rooms are divided into a few categories, including Parkview, Deluxe, and King Spa (which have a vintage soaking tub), and various levels of suites.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Four men have been arrested and charged in the 1982 rape and murder of 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp — a case that went cold for more than four decades before DNA testing and a true-crime podcast cracked it open.—
Jeremy Mikula,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The physicality ramped up early in the second period when the B’s fourth line flexed their muscle and cracked Lyon.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Williams promised an investigation but ceased communications.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Rodent issues at Angel Stadium had ceased since a 2007 report in The Times that the stadium had been cited 118 times for vermin violations in the previous two years.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The United Nations Development Programme reports that higher energy prices, disrupted food systems, and economic slowdowns triggered by the war could push up to thirty-two million people globally into poverty.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Disasters threaten treatment The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration works with states to ensure that access to opioid use disorder medication isn't disrupted, Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard said.—
Andrew Jones,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the crowd laughed and Ross blew a kiss in Kraft’s direction, Brady could be seen shifting in his seat behind and to the right of the comedian.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Schuman fell off his bike at one point, and the boy laughed at him.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma could be dissolved and replaced by a company focused on the public good by the end of the week, as a massive legal settlement resolving thousands of lawsuits is set to take effect.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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The team focused on hydrometallurgical recycling, in which battery metals are dissolved into a liquid and later separated for reuse.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20up. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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