broke up

past tense of break up
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 broke up 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 The two broke up when the ex-wife cheated on OP with her current husband. Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 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 Linebacker Jack Sanborn broke up Love’s pass to Golden, and the ball immediately hit the ground. Michael Silver, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 But the speakers broke up and distorted at this volume. Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025 Police reported Sunday there was no evidence of shots being fired; however, officers broke up several fights among juveniles while on scene. Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025 On the other side of the ball, Flowers, a defensive back, broke up a pass in the waning minutes. Noah White, Miami Herald, 2 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
  • As part of that process, Netflix stopped disclosing its subscribers at the end of last year.
    Fortune Editors, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Weekly updates from the more specific FluView have stopped, as have summary reports from RESP-NET that tracks hospitalizations for Covid-19, flu and RSV from a network of hospitals across the country.
    Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 22 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
  • Their new trend report breaks down destinations gaining the most buzz – and a few American getaways cracked the list of international gems.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Through it all, the banking world is still painting a picture of an economy that hasn’t cracked yet.
    Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 22 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
  • Cuomo, the former governor and an independent candidate for mayor, laughed along.
    New York Times, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • George laughed and stabbed a potato with his fork.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 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

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Cite this Entry

“Broke up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20up. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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