Synonyms of broken
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as in shattered 
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as in jagged
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as in uneven
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as in disrupted
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as in stopped
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as in demoted
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as in deciphered
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as in paused
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as in plowed
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as in violated
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as in solved
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as in damaged
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as in stalled
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as in bolted
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as in worn
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as in unfolded
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as in ruined
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as in originated
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as in veered
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as in reduced
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as in exceeded
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as in emerged
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Example Sentences
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Entries Near
1
as in shattered
forcibly separated into many pieces
a broken vase that could not be repaired
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2
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline
the broken rim of the antique vase greatly reduces its value
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3
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
that portion of the hiking trail consists of a long, broken mountain ridge
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1
as in disrupted
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
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2
as in stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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3
as in demoted
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
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4
as in deciphered
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
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5
as in paused
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
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6
as in plowed
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows
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7
as in violated
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
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8
as in solved
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
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9
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in stalled
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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11
as in bolted
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
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12
as in worn
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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13
as in unfolded
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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14
as in ruined
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
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15
as in originated
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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16
as in veered
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
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17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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18
as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of broken
Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The past — which includes a back injury that derailed his first big league season and a broken wrist in the second — has somewhat clouded Carter’s once-top prospect status.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Meg Walters, InStyle, 21 Feb. 2026
The Ten Presidents, a group of local architects, said Saturday the report starts from a bias that City Hall is broken and should be abandoned, presents upgrade costs nearing a new building without clear explanation and conflicts with a 2018 study that projected repairs costing far less.
—Dallas Morning News, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
Adjective
Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The past — which includes a back injury that derailed his first big league season and a broken wrist in the second — has somewhat clouded Carter’s once-top prospect status.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
Of course, these rules were made to be broken and Middleton's understated, stylish look proves it.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 21 Feb. 2026
The Ten Presidents, a group of local architects, said Saturday the report starts from a bias that City Hall is broken and should be abandoned, presents upgrade costs nearing a new building without clear explanation and conflicts with a 2018 study that projected repairs costing far less.
—Dallas Morning News, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
Adjective
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You are torn through shattered car windows.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
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Last Sunday, Breezy Johnson won downhill gold on the same Olimpia delle Tofane that took her out of the 2022 Games in Beijing and Lindsey Vonn, back from retirement, stepped into the starting gate with a torn ACL only to leave with a shattered leg via helicopter.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The sidewalks were already frozen slick early in December, and my body was rigid from the jagged cold.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
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Kimberley Alpine Resort is surrounded by jagged peaks, and its car-free downtown feels like a snow globe, complete with a quaint look and quiet atmosphere.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This top is business in the front (the draped, halter neckline and uneven hem) and a party in the back (the open back).—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2026
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Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a real-time planning and control framework that significantly improves how two-legged robots recover from sudden disturbances while walking on uneven or moving terrain.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Economic and religious activities disrupted by DHS Muslims in Minneapolis, estimated now to be more than 100,000, have lived in the city for well over a century, and the city has embraced them.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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When breathing stops or becomes shallow, sleep is disrupted and the body may experience drops in oxygen.—
Sarah Jividen,
Verywell Health,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That has not stopped him from being a frequent guest on cable and network television.—
Max Rego,
The Hill,
16 Feb. 2026
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Only recently had many countries stopped treating solo female travelers as a problem to be managed, no longer refusing them hotel rooms when traveling without a man, or denying them credit cards to pay for it.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Gingles had been nearly demoted at his job, the co-worker said, due to taking too much time off because of his pending divorce.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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Bovino was demoted last month, two days after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Jan 24.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The sun dances to its own (currently less-than-deciphered) rhythms, moving through an 11-year-long cycle.—
Sarah Scoles,
Scientific American,
10 Dec. 2025
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At first this voice from the heavens has seemingly sent a benign message but it’s quickly deciphered to be a DNA cocktail for Earthlings to investigate.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The university told the student her appeal would be paused until the federal education agency completed its review, the lawsuit said.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
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An appeals court paused the order but instructed the hospital to allow Bowden to apply for privileges.—
Evan MacDonald,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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