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
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Recent Examples of broken in
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
By the time the plane crashed, in a forest at thirty-five hundred feet, its fuselage had broken in two and a trail of debris ten miles long stretched behind it.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
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
By the time the plane crashed, in a forest at thirty-five hundred feet, its fuselage had broken in two and a trail of debris ten miles long stretched behind it.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken in
Verb
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Perhaps not coincidentally, Russia invaded the former Soviet republic of Georgia later that year.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
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Some have questioned whether the Biennale really is a nonpartisan exhibition, pointing to the show’s history of making political statements, including in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The candidates often exceeded the time limits and interrupted one another.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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As Miller relayed this story, the sound of a vehicle coming down the dirt road interrupted him.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Davenport said this is the second time someone has been robbed outside her home.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
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Despite the March 26 fire at the City Park Bandshell, which destroyed the historic structure and robbed this marquee series of its main stage, the 40-year-old jazz nonprofit has vowed to go on with a mobile stage.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
If Congress does nothing, research suggests, retirees will see a 28% cut in monthly benefits.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
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And food stamp cuts in Arizona offer a warning to the nation.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20in. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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