Synonyms of break
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as in to disrupt 
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as in to stop
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as in to reduce
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as in to decipher
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as in to pause
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as in to plow
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as in to violate
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as in to solve
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as in to damage
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as in to die
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as in to retreat
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as in to wear
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as in to circulate
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as in to ruin
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as in to begin
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as in to veer
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as in to depress
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as in to exceed
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as in to surface
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as in disrupted
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as in ended
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as in demoted
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as in deciphered
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as in paused
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as in plowed
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as in violated
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as in solved
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as in damaged
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as in died
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as in retreated
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as in wore
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as in circulated
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as in ruined
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as in began
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as in veered
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as in reduced
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as in exceeded
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as in surfaced
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as in fractured
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as in stopped
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as in degraded
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as in cracked
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as in interrupted
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as in raked
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as in breached
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as in resolved
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as in hurt
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as in stalled
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as in bolted
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as in worn
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as in spread
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as in bankrupted
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as in originated
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as in cut
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as in sunk
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as in invaded
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as in emerged
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as in pause
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as in vacation
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as in gap
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as in opportunity
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as in accident
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as in escape
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as in impoverished
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as in shattered
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as in jagged
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as in uneven
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Example Sentences
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Phrases Containing
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Entries Near
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Related Articles
1
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reduce
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to decipher
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to pause
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
7
as in to violate
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in to die
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in to wear
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in to circulate
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
15
as in to begin
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
16
as in to veer
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
17
as in to depress
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
18
as in to exceed
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity
there was a brief break after the first movement as the doors to the concert hall were opened and the latecomers were allowed in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vacation
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended
most of the students at the boarding school are going home for Christmas break
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
the rancher repaired the break in the fence where the horse had gotten through
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in accident
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events
a guy who just seems to get all the breaks in life
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
a desperate break from that hellhole
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
too broke to afford even a used car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in shattered
forcibly separated into many pieces
a broken vase that could not be repaired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline
the broken rim of the antique vase greatly reduces its value
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
that portion of the hiking trail consists of a long, broken mountain ridge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in disrupted
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ended
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demoted
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deciphered
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in paused
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in plowed
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in violated
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in solved
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in died
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in retreated
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in wore
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in circulated
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
as in ruined
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
15
as in began
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
16
as in veered
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
18
as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in fractured
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in degraded
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cracked
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in interrupted
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in raked
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in breached
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in resolved
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in hurt
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in stalled
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in bolted
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in worn
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in spread
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
as in bankrupted
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
15
as in originated
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
16
as in cut
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
17
as in sunk
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
18
as in invaded
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of break
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
But soon after the union, Rehana says the promises were broken and the psychological abuse and harassment began.
—Carlotta Dotto, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2025
After their summer break, William and Kate made a joint appearance at the Natural History Museum.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Sep. 2025
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
About 60% of NBA stars go broke within five years of retirement, Sports Illustrated reported in 2009.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Ben Pickman, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
In January, a Missouri woman, photographed holding Nancy Pelosi’s broken nameplate on January 6th, received ten years in prison for killing a woman while driving drunk.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025
Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goal-scoring record last season and is entering the final year of his contract.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Duxbury has also broken onto the global fashion scene as a model and brand ambassador.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break
Verb
Remove it with a garden rake or have the lawn aerated to break it down.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
But soon after the union, Rehana says the promises were broken and the psychological abuse and harassment began.
—Carlotta Dotto, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
This year, their record after the All-Star break hovered within the Top 10 in the Major Leagues, but their 41-57 hole to begin the year was too difficult to emerge from.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2025
After their summer break, William and Kate made a joint appearance at the Natural History Museum.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
In any case, now Jeremiah has to trade a rent-free room at Steven’s apartment for a rent-free room at Denise’s, but clearly, being broke does wonders for the spirit.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
About 60% of NBA stars go broke within five years of retirement, Sports Illustrated reported in 2009.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Tibbetts said that Whitcomb’s 3-pointer came on a broken play.
—Ben Pickman, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
In January, a Missouri woman, photographed holding Nancy Pelosi’s broken nameplate on January 6th, received ten years in prison for killing a woman while driving drunk.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Bob Vylan‘s controversial set at Glastonbury broke editorial guidelines at the BBC, the UK pubcaster’s complaints division has ruled.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025
Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goal-scoring record last season and is entering the final year of his contract.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
There, she was told by a physician assistant that her water had broken, and the baby was unlikely to survive.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Duxbury has also broken onto the global fashion scene as a model and brand ambassador.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Noun
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After battling Bukele in public and her own embassy in private, Manes announced a pause in diplomatic relations and left El Salvador in late 2021.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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His showing over the weekend, however, should at least give the Canucks some pause.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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European vacation destinations will soon require travelers to have prints of their fingers taken as well as photos upon arrival.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In Pennsylvania, Democrats’ advantage has fallen from close to a million a decade ago to only tens of thousands today, with the gap shrinking dramatically in the last two election cycles.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
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Norris’ seventh-place finish was enough to narrow the gap to 25 points between him and Piastri with seven grands prix and three sprint races to go — a more achievable feat if Norris’ pre-summer form returns.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Its Club Nick kids club is a supervised program for children ages four to 12, and non-motorized water sports and the opportunity to get slimed (the ultimate Nickelodeon honor) will keep everyone smiling.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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While Xaverian had one final opportunity late, the Golden Eagles stood strong defensively.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Both of his parents came in for the game, though Morton said his mom hurt her leg in an accident and was unable to come to the ballpark.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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One of the saddest parts of Remember The Titans is when Bertier got into a car accident that left him paralyzed before their last game.—
Jessica Booth,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Each Residence has abundant outdoor lounge spaces and a large swimming pool, and can be booked in its entirety for a group retreat or a multigenerational family escape.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
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Here, the local world flows straight into your own private escape, creating an unrivaled, unforgettable vacation experience.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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August represented somewhat of a lull in Russian strikes.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
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Despite a relatively quiet lull in spicy antics from morning TV's sassiest couple, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa engaged in a bit of light torso touching on the latest episode of Live With Kelly & Mark.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Team it with ballet flats or sneakers for a casual day of apple-picking or tailgating this fall, or dress it up with tights and boots for holiday celebrations and other special occasions.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
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Similar holidays celebrate other family members throughout the year, such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, National Daughters Day and Grandparents' Day.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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