broken in

Definition of broken innext
past participle of break in
1
as in invaded
to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent the burglars broke in by smashing a window

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in interrupted
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 broken in My right leg was broken in three places which required surgical repair and a permanent titanium rod implanted along my tibia bone. Michael Miller, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026 Samuelsson’s stick had broken in front of his own net and Arvidsson pounced. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026 Doctors told her that her spinal cord was damaged and that her back was broken in half. Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026 Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express. Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026 Indoors, opt for light traps, sticky traps, and bug catchers that can capture those who have broken in. Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026 On Friday, March 20, daily temperature records were broken in Downtown Los Angeles, where a temperature of 96 degrees was recorded, breaking a record of 93 from 1997. Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026 In a season dominated by conversations about all that is broken in college basketball and college athletics, the tournament reared itself to remind everyone what is right. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026 On Thursday, the weather service reported daily temperature records were broken in several locations including Napa (88), Richmond (86), San Francisco (86), Redwood City (91), San Jose (85) and the Salinas Airport (91). Tim Fang, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken in
Verb
  • Aspiring journalist Lily’s camera was recording when the OPEF Marines invaded and began killing both Marsies and the Peacekeepers force that was actually aligned with the Marines and fighting against the Marsies.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 May 2026
  • Muscle tissues, which initially made up 17 percent of the explant, were gradually invaded by coelomocytes that broke the muscle down into small pieces and destroyed its organization.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Chatter echoes through the ballpark, only to be interrupted by the smack of an aluminum bat, cheers and a foghorn sound effect after a player hits a home run.
    James Burky, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
  • It was made that much worse when several cast members laughed at her insincerity and Maddi Reese interrupted it several times because there was a stray cat nearby that terrified her.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Back in February, just two blocks from where Monday’s victim was attacked, an 88-year-old woman was shoved to the ground and robbed of her cane, cops said.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 June 2026
  • Investigators said the 15-year-olds robbed Perry of a BB gun.
    Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • Marie-Paule had straight blond hair, cut in a bob with a clip on one side, and was clutching a miniature schoolbag.
    Annie Ernaux, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • The union says many of their workers were affected by the Great Recession in 2008, when hourly wages for some autoworkers were cut in half.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 1 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Broken in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20in. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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