as in divided
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Dissimilar Words
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
as in ended
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 separated
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 stopped
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 giggled
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of broken up
Torben Rick, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
Officials in Germany have also broken up plots targeting the head of a German weapons supplier to Ukraine and a Ukrainian military official.
—Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
While some fans question whether Percy truly cheated on Sam if they were broken up, others have charged that neither Percy nor Charlie is redeemable as a character.
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026
His perfect parade was broken up by an error in the fourth inning when miscommunication between Andy Pages and Kyle Tucker led to Trea Turner’s fly ball glancing off Tucker’s glove and dropping to the warning track uncaught.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
And so my surreal day-to-day, a regular life broken up by suspensions of my rights, stopped mattering.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
Bands that had broken up have reformed, playing bigger venues than ever and creating some of the best music of their careers.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 15 May 2026
In a medium bowl, mash cream cheese with a fork until broken up.
—Midwest Living, 15 May 2026
Some at Intel still believe the company should be broken up, to split manufacturing and product design and accelerate progress.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Verb
Topography and shifting climates had broken up these populations into different habitats, allowing each to evolve into distinct species.
—Torben Rick, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
Officials in Germany have also broken up plots targeting the head of a German weapons supplier to Ukraine and a Ukrainian military official.
—Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
While some fans question whether Percy truly cheated on Sam if they were broken up, others have charged that neither Percy nor Charlie is redeemable as a character.
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026
His perfect parade was broken up by an error in the fourth inning when miscommunication between Andy Pages and Kyle Tucker led to Trea Turner’s fly ball glancing off Tucker’s glove and dropping to the warning track uncaught.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
And so my surreal day-to-day, a regular life broken up by suspensions of my rights, stopped mattering.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
Bands that had broken up have reformed, playing bigger venues than ever and creating some of the best music of their careers.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 15 May 2026
In a medium bowl, mash cream cheese with a fork until broken up.
—Midwest Living, 15 May 2026
Some at Intel still believe the company should be broken up, to split manufacturing and product design and accelerate progress.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken up
Adjective
-
Rather than a small drawer or tray, the divided top of West Elm’s storage coffee table rotates to reveal an empty storage cavity to fill with throw blankets, books, or video game controllers.—
Rachel Fletcher,
Architectural Digest,
19 June 2026
-
As Americans remain divided on the memorandum of understanding ending the war in Iran, star athletes who represent two of the countries most impacted by the deal have shared their thoughts.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The city and a group of taxpayers for years squabbled in court over whether the government had the right to enter into a contract with the Friends, which ultimately disbanded before the zoo opened in Griffith Park in 1966.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
This group, along with a number of others dedicated to examining and addressing inequities in the military, has been disbanded.—
Clint Smith,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Both tournaments brought disappointment and his reign as coach ended after being confronted at the team’s hotel in Abidjan by angry supporters.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Fox's paranormal sci-fi series was absolutely beyond its time and still holds up well over a decade after its five-season run ended.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Benji separated from Zack, patted the spot on the bed between them, and then opened up his arm as an invitation.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
-
The park’s two districts are separated by the city of Tucson, with the drive between the western and eastern districts taking between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on traffic.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Dodging rockfall that would’ve cracked my low-hanging differential.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
-
When Jonah was 3, sound asleep in his room at his older sister’s birthday party, bullets from an assault rifle cracked through the windows of Jamon’s house and left holes above his bed.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Its domestic league stopped playing.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
-
Big Oil is not backing away from renewables because the energy transition has stopped.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, its medium-range drones have also disrupted Russia’s supply lines to the front, and its long-range strikes have increasingly damaged Russian oil facilities that provide vital revenue for the Kremlin’s war effort.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
-
Record heat has disrupted schools and transportation networks and forced some tourist attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, to close.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
23 June 2026
Verb
-
The couple giggled between kisses and lounged on a red-and-white picnic blanket while overlooking the Pacific Ocean.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
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But after the dust settled Saturday, La Habra’s senior softball players sat side-by-side on the grass, kicked off their cleats and giggled.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20up. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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