Synonyms of break
-
as in to disrupt 
-
as in to stop
-
as in to reduce
-
as in to decipher
-
as in to pause
-
as in to plow
-
as in to violate
-
as in to solve
-
as in to damage
-
as in to die
-
as in to retreat
-
as in to wear
-
as in to circulate
-
as in to ruin
-
as in to begin
-
as in to veer
-
as in to depress
-
as in to exceed
-
as in to surface
-
as in disrupted
-
as in ended
-
as in demoted
-
as in deciphered
-
as in paused
-
as in plowed
-
as in violated
-
as in solved
-
as in damaged
-
as in died
-
as in retreated
-
as in wore
-
as in circulated
-
as in ruined
-
as in began
-
as in veered
-
as in reduced
-
as in exceeded
-
as in surfaced
-
as in fractured
-
as in stopped
-
as in degraded
-
as in cracked
-
as in interrupted
-
as in raked
-
as in breached
-
as in resolved
-
as in hurt
-
as in stalled
-
as in bolted
-
as in worn
-
as in spread
-
as in bankrupted
-
as in originated
-
as in cut
-
as in sunk
-
as in invaded
-
as in emerged
-
as in pause
-
as in vacation
-
as in gap
-
as in opportunity
-
as in accident
-
as in escape
-
as in impoverished
-
as in shattered
-
as in jagged
-
as in uneven
-
Example Sentences
-
Phrases Containing
-
Entries Near
-
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of break
Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
And video game spinoffs of the Italian Brainrot cinematic universe have broken all sorts of records on Roblox and Fortnite.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
What issue will have preoccupied both managers during the break?
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
So to invest in a broke company is beyond me.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Christian Romo, Freep.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The shakeup, along with bad weather, plummeting attendance, broken rides, and a rise in competition have added to the company’s struggles amid shares falling more than 45 percent in 2025.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Consider the open-air Lincoln Road, the pedestrian plaza in Miami Beach that recently broke ground on a multimillion restoration plan.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Our school funding system is broken.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break
Verb
Jennifer Jolly Special to USA Today The internet didn’t wait long to break OpenAI’s newest toy.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
And video game spinoffs of the Italian Brainrot cinematic universe have broken all sorts of records on Roblox and Fortnite.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
This includes directing users to professional help, strengthening safeguards on sensitive topics, and encouraging breaks during long sessions.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
What issue will have preoccupied both managers during the break?
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Reunion shows often have a vital, go-for-broke spirit, and this movie does too, in the sweetest possible way.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
So to invest in a broke company is beyond me.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Ivey, who missed most of last season with a broken fibula, will be out for a few weeks to start the season after undergoing surgery on his right knee.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The shakeup, along with bad weather, plummeting attendance, broken rides, and a rise in competition have added to the company’s struggles amid shares falling more than 45 percent in 2025.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
Looking at the box score, Chase broke his own franchise record for the most receptions in a single game, hauling in 16 of his 23 targets from Flacco for 161 yards and his touchdown.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Consider the open-air Lincoln Road, the pedestrian plaza in Miami Beach that recently broke ground on a multimillion restoration plan.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
The urgent care physician assistant took X-rays and nothing was broken.
—Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Our school funding system is broken.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Noun
-
Lawrence also took another two-year pause after the release of raunchy comedy No Hard Feelings (2023) before taking on a new project, Die My Love.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
While earnings season has helped fill the information void, this pause in government data comes at a uniquely unfortunate time, given questions about the health of the labor market and inflationary pressures during the trade war.—
Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That left the vacation-friends spatter-fest Speak No Evil to provide Blumhouse’s only positive cash flow for the year.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
-
At the beginning of August, the Jonas Brothers singer shared a series of photos on his Instagram from his beach vacation with Chopra Jonas and Malti.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Nopales, like cruciferous vegetables such as kale, collards, and arugula, are rich in calcium and can help fill this nutrient gap.—
Barbie Cervoni,
Verywell Health,
22 Oct. 2025
-
That's an enormous gap, but what other team has a better claim as the league's 11th-best?—
Chase Goodbread,
The Tuscaloosa News,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But if you too have been mesmerized by the Belle Époque aesthetics of recent video games like Lies of P and Clair Obscur, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to put on a red beret and parry with the best of them.—
James Factora,
Them.,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Arteta will need to use this as an opportunity to get more from other players in the squad.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In the film, a tragic accident sends Kenna (Monroe) to prison and causes the death of her boyfriend Scotty (Outer Banks star Rudy Pankow).—
Benjamin VanHoose,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The Pitch Perfect star recently looked back on how a brutal cement truck accident abruptly altered his plans for the future, and how going through puberty shortly thereafter altered them yet again.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The plane's inflatable escape slide was deployed, and the nose and tail sections of the plane separated.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Culture Minister Rachida Dati later told TF1 that the gang broke into the Galerie d’Apollon — a sumptuous room on the first floor of the Petite Galerie that has housed the French crown jewels since 1887 — and that a piece of jewelry was recovered during the escape.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
However, an early burst of winter storms was expected, with a lull of snow in the mid-winter season, then a resurgence in the late months of winter.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
21 Oct. 2025
-
For instance, why did the offense experience so many extended lulls against opposing bullpens (even as, in another contradiction, its overall performance against bullpens was in line with 2024)?—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Act fast to treat yourself to something special or score early holiday gift picks from high-end brands while these markdowns start at just $26.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The boutique will include handmade must haves, one-of-a-kind treasures and great gift ideas, as well as quilts for all ages, holiday items, children’s toys, lovely home décor, planters and unique household goods to name a few.—
Dawn Giangiulio,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share