broken up 1 of 2

Definition of broken upnext

broken up

2 of 2

verb

past participle 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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
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
6
7

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 up
Verb
Real Man Adventures isn’t broken up into chapter-length sections of narrative, but rather brief, discursive essays. Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026 Even though the episode is broken up by brief life updates from alumni, the Lacheys are definitely focused on getting answers from the season-ten cast. Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026 As Curiosity climbs, the terrain shows a clear shift toward increasingly dry conditions, broken up by occasional wetter intervals when rivers and lakes briefly resurfaced. Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026 The couple, who dated for 10 months before marrying in 2004, have broken up and reconciled as coparents in recent years. Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026 Stewart, on the bench and out of the game, sprinted onto the court and sought out Bridges, leading Bridges and Stewart to square off before things were finally broken up. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026 This result is a high-scoring alley-oop-fest broken up only by about a million three-point attempts. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026 The city has broken up clusters of RVs and directed residents into short-term shelters, including tiny homes and hotels. Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026 The Grizzlies won at least 48 games in three of the last four seasons — including 56 in 2021-22 — but did not advance beyond the second round with the core that is now being broken up. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken up
Adjective
  • Conversation starters → A cruise line is testing a new free lunch menu, but passengers remain divided over the change.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
  • But when broken down to younger voters, preferences were more divided.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The group disbanded after Takeoff was shot and killed in November 2022 following an argument that broke out during a private party at a bowling alley in Houston, police said at the time.
    Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The Atlanta hip-hop trio formally disbanded the following year after Offset and Quavo performed a tribute dedicated to Takeoff.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • For loved ones, the ceremony is not only about mourning, but about reclaiming Tianah's story from the violence that ended it.
    Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Months before that, in a separate interview, the star revealed Netflix had not called her back to film after her maternity leave ended.
    Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Police said witness accounts indicate that the couple arrived at Zuri Hotel in Zanzibar on April 4 and had been quarreling frequently until the night of April 8, when hotel management separated them and asked McCann to move to a separate villa about a 10-minute walk away.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Both justices attended Yale Law School, separated by 11 years.
    Joe Walsh, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The figures had cracked in many places and some of the statues revealed their complicated armature.
    Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • This year, Miles cracked the top 20 all time in total assists.
    Matthew Coller, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The shipping disruption also largely stopped the export of nitrogen fertilizers manufactured in the Persian Gulf and limited access to key fertilizer ingredients.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Eventually, Betty stopped and squatted.
    Gabriel Debenedetti, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • His arrival disrupted Diawara’s rhythm but gave Brown a gritty, experienced defender for small-ball combinations.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • An uneven jobs landscape and disrupted energy markets due to the war in the Middle East has made the Federal Reserve more sensitive to inflation in recent months, resulting in a pause on rate cuts.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • After letting out a cathartic scream, Madigan giggled.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Taking a deep breath, the Quantico alum giggled and then, leaning over, plunged her face straight into the ice.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Broken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20up. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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