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
By March 19, weather data shows monthly all-time high record temperatures were broken in at least 11 states where the data goes back at least 70 years.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 31 Mar. 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
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
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
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 31 Mar. 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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken in
Verb
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Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, topped more than $100 a barrel on Monday for the first time since 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That operation began on October 29, 1956, when Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula and rapidly overwhelmed Egyptian forces.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Arulampalam’s announcement also comes the same week his state of the city address was interrupted by protestors demanding the firing of Magnano and the officer who fatally shot 53-year-old Everard Walker, who was killed during a mental health call just eight days before Jones was shot.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
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What is the most navy blue system that has interrupted with your own life recently?—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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We were robbed of an incredible human.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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The 21-year-old McGonigle, who was robbed of his first home run by center fielder Jackson Merrill in the second, worked a 10-pitch at-bat against Wandy Peralta in a lefty-on-lefty matchup that culminated with a single to right field that brought in Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith for a 4-2 lead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There's no numbered ticketing system, so keep track of your place in line or a regular will cut in front of you.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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As director Bill Benz noted in our profile of Chris Fleming, Live at the Palace feels like a wildlife documentary, where the cameras move, zoom, and cut in hopes of capturing this majestic creature in its element.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20in. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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