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
Last year’s seasonal ozone hole was one of the fifth-smallest since recovery began in 1992 and broke up nearly three weeks earlier than the average over the past decade.
—
Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Ambrosia broke up in 1982 but reunited in 1989; Pack later left, though the band’s other three founders continued to perform.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Nate, who stormed out of Lexi's play and seemingly broke up with Cassie in the process, makes a shocking decision to turn his dad, Cal Jacobs (Dane), over to the police.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Ambrosia broke up in 1982 and then reunited in 1989 with all four original members.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2026
The open-air format also broke up the usual audience structure.
—Yook Jihun, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
His girlfriend broke up with him.
—Sam Davies, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
The pair ended the show engaged but broke up in October 2021.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The grey added dimension and broke up the look in the best way.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 17 Mar. 2026
Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Ambrosia broke up in 1982 but reunited in 1989; Pack later left, though the band’s other three founders continued to perform.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Nate, who stormed out of Lexi's play and seemingly broke up with Cassie in the process, makes a shocking decision to turn his dad, Cal Jacobs (Dane), over to the police.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Ambrosia broke up in 1982 and then reunited in 1989 with all four original members.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2026
The open-air format also broke up the usual audience structure.
—Yook Jihun, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
His girlfriend broke up with him.
—Sam Davies, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
The pair ended the show engaged but broke up in October 2021.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The grey added dimension and broke up the look in the best way.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke up
Verb
-
The franchise disbanded after the 2008 season.—
Doug Feinberg,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The franchise disbanded after the 2008 season.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His words were underscored when police in Israel stopped Catholic leaders from celebrating a private Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built on the spot where Jesus was thought to have been crucified.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Right away, the Bruins allowed point-blank chances to Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner in the opening minutes that Swayman stopped.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, their estate will be divided amongst my siblings and the portion that would be mine will go to a charity of my parent’s choice.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
We’re divided over politics, over the climate, over the Beckhams.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Running from 2005 through 2013 for a total of nine seasons, the sitcom just cracked 200 episodes, following the hapless and offbeat employees at a fictional paper company.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The series traded on the glamorous sheen of their mythos but never cracked below it.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Political and police harassment hasn’t ceased.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The company ceased operations in 2018.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The strikes temporarily disrupted the spacecraft’s electrical systems, but quick action by mission control kept the mission on track.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
But oil bound for Asia from this new exit point still has to pass through Bab el-Mandeb to avoid the long way around, meaning it could be disrupted.—
Flavio Macau,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Bradford delivered the detail about the sandwich, the board and attendees laughed and shook their heads.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
-
LaMorie laughed and walked toward the officers.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Morton kosher salt, and ¼ cup heavy cream in a large bowl until pudding mix is dissolved and mixture is smooth.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The company has since been dissolved, according to the Idaho Secretary of State business database.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20up. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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