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
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Recent Examples of broken
Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Together, the couple operates a studio focused on kintsugi, a centuries-old Japanese technique that restores broken ceramics using natural lacquer and metallic powders.
—Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Erika Stanish, CBS News, 8 May 2026
But some of the biggest voices in the game, including UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma, say increasing the number of teams attempts to fix something that wasn’t broken and that there are bigger issues, namely transfer rules, that should be addressed.
—Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
Adjective
The report said some female bodies brought to morgues showed broken pelvises or legs, bloodied underwear and additional trauma to the abdomen or groin.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Together, the couple operates a studio focused on kintsugi, a centuries-old Japanese technique that restores broken ceramics using natural lacquer and metallic powders.
—Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Verb
Both girls were rushed to the hospital and police said that one of them, citing a family member, had both of her legs broken.
—Erika Stanish, CBS News, 8 May 2026
But some of the biggest voices in the game, including UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma, say increasing the number of teams attempts to fix something that wasn’t broken and that there are bigger issues, namely transfer rules, that should be addressed.
—Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
Adjective
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Of his injuries, his three shattered vertebrae required the longest recovery time.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Later, a long close-up of a shattered glass of milk works neither as visual rhyme with the snowy setting nor dramatic insight.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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But the storms that lash the unpeopled coasts and jagged mountains of our Fiftieth State are no respecters of men, even the best of us.—
Ben East,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
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From the beginning, the Palisades, with its Mediterranean climate and jagged coastline, lured the most adventurous of settlers, each generation reshaping it in its own image.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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These Italian suede sneakers feature a durable gum sole that’s perfect for a long day of walking without tripping over cobblestones or uneven pavement.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
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Elsewhere, shopping was uneven.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Water pressure is building back up in the Oakland County, Michigan, communities affected by a 42-inch water main that broke early Sunday and disrupted service.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
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But last month, as Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz disrupted exports from other nations, that proportion surged to 18%, Xu said.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Hagerty batted around against three different West Orange pitchers and before the bleeding was stopped, the Huskies had plated 10 runs in a crazy inning.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
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For nearly two hours, Kid Rock barely stopped moving.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
10 May 2026
Verb
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The UConn Club Running team, which is being demoted, had 120 members last fall.—
Katie Servas,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
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Will Smith has been a disappointment as teammate Dalton Rushing has outearned him, despite 50+ fewer at bats, while Agustín Ramírez has fallen out of the ranks after being demoted to the minors.—
Dalton Del Don,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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By slow degrees, Philip’s story shifts to accommodate the incontrovertible evidence of IP addresses and deciphered cryptography and Lucy struggles to keep up, let alone understand.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
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The researchers then deciphered certain traits that were linked to the habit.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Andrii Yalanskyi/Getty Images A Federal Reserve meeting in the final days of April that resulted in interest rates staying paused may not have been the development millions of American borrowers were hoping for.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
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Operations were paused at Delta’s Orlando terminal that night following the collision, with one departing flight being canceled, according to the airline.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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