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
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Recent Examples of broken in
West was in a car accident after leaving a recording studio in 2002, which left his jaw broken in three places.
—
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
The price of gold now sits over $5,000 per ounce, the latest in a string of price records broken in recent years.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
Their leather shaft molds to your ankle once they’re broken in, too.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
The downtrend that extended from the March highs was just broken in late September — something has changed.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
One of the miracles of the fire is that the cedars did survive, mostly intact except for a few limbs that were broken in the fierce winds.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
Chris talks about being broken in every possible way a person can be.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
Louisville’s equipment staff arrives with 10-12 balls broken in and ready for game use, as well as a host of other balls used in pregame that aren’t for game use.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Davidson said Cline had surgery to repair her jaw which was broken in three places and was discharged from the hospital a couple of days ago and is recovering at her home in Kentucky.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Sep. 2025
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
The price of gold now sits over $5,000 per ounce, the latest in a string of price records broken in recent years.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
Their leather shaft molds to your ankle once they’re broken in, too.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
The downtrend that extended from the March highs was just broken in late September — something has changed.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
One of the miracles of the fire is that the cedars did survive, mostly intact except for a few limbs that were broken in the fierce winds.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
Chris talks about being broken in every possible way a person can be.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
Louisville’s equipment staff arrives with 10-12 balls broken in and ready for game use, as well as a host of other balls used in pregame that aren’t for game use.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Davidson said Cline had surgery to repair her jaw which was broken in three places and was discharged from the hospital a couple of days ago and is recovering at her home in Kentucky.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken in
Verb
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There’s Pete Carroll holding the hand of his sobbing grandson as television cameras invaded his personal space.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Northeast will thaw out from the life-threatening cold that invaded this weekend.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Maybe this appreciation comes from my many 20 years of cruiser time, experiencing some solitary moments, interrupted by panic and chaos.—
Chick Pritchard,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
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Until one of his passengers interrupted.—
Sam McDowell
Updated February 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Two victims were robbed at their homes, and one was robbed after exiting a vehicle at a business in San Rafael.—
Cameron Macdonald,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
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In a social media post on Thursday, the Novato Police Department said that dispatchers received a 911 call on the afternoon of January 14 from a man who reported being robbed at gunpoint at his home in central Novato.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Many problems contribute to these shifts—insufficient investments in infrastructure, budget cuts in state and local health departments, the growing drug resistance of bacteria.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
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Officials said 311 wait times were also cut in half to help New Yorkers who didn't have a warm place to stay.—
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20in. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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