as in divided
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in disbanded
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization
the band broke up when their arguments over money grew too stressful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ended
to come to an end
the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in separated
to set or force apart
he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cracked
to yield to mental or emotional stress
the sort of person who would be among the first to break up in a prisoner of war camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in disrupted
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in giggled
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
if you break up during the skit, the audience will know that you're in on the joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of broken up
Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Even though the episode is broken up by brief life updates from alumni, the Lacheys are definitely focused on getting answers from the season-ten cast.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
As Curiosity climbs, the terrain shows a clear shift toward increasingly dry conditions, broken up by occasional wetter intervals when rivers and lakes briefly resurfaced.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
The couple, who dated for 10 months before marrying in 2004, have broken up and reconciled as coparents in recent years.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Stewart, on the bench and out of the game, sprinted onto the court and sought out Bridges, leading Bridges and Stewart to square off before things were finally broken up.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
This result is a high-scoring alley-oop-fest broken up only by about a million three-point attempts.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The city has broken up clusters of RVs and directed residents into short-term shelters, including tiny homes and hotels.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
The Grizzlies won at least 48 games in three of the last four seasons — including 56 in 2021-22 — but did not advance beyond the second round with the core that is now being broken up.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
Real Man Adventures isn’t broken up into chapter-length sections of narrative, but rather brief, discursive essays.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Even though the episode is broken up by brief life updates from alumni, the Lacheys are definitely focused on getting answers from the season-ten cast.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
As Curiosity climbs, the terrain shows a clear shift toward increasingly dry conditions, broken up by occasional wetter intervals when rivers and lakes briefly resurfaced.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
The couple, who dated for 10 months before marrying in 2004, have broken up and reconciled as coparents in recent years.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Stewart, on the bench and out of the game, sprinted onto the court and sought out Bridges, leading Bridges and Stewart to square off before things were finally broken up.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
This result is a high-scoring alley-oop-fest broken up only by about a million three-point attempts.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The city has broken up clusters of RVs and directed residents into short-term shelters, including tiny homes and hotels.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
The Grizzlies won at least 48 games in three of the last four seasons — including 56 in 2021-22 — but did not advance beyond the second round with the core that is now being broken up.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken up
Adjective
-
No faction is more divided than the British, however, with benign diplomat Thomas Hopkins (Billy Howle) at odds with the almost feral Army captain Orde Wingate (Aramayo), reputed father of the modern IDF.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Chicago residents remain divided on whether the technology belongs in their city.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The franchise disbanded after the 2008 season.—
Doug Feinberg,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The franchise disbanded after the 2008 season.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Oh, and after a Collins strikeout finally ended the streak in the sixth, Isbel promptly led off the bottom of the seventh with a home run.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
-
According to Max Preps, the JSerra Lions ended the 2025 season with a 3-7 record and went 0-5 in the Trinity League against powerhouse like Mater Dei.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Carmen only got to visit him once after they were separated.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
After Laura was separated from her son, the investigator said the boy was eating pancakes and sausages and was mobile.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Running from 2005 through 2013 for a total of nine seasons, the sitcom just cracked 200 episodes, following the hapless and offbeat employees at a fictional paper company.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The series traded on the glamorous sheen of their mythos but never cracked below it.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His words were underscored when police in Israel stopped Catholic leaders from celebrating a private Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built on the spot where Jesus was thought to have been crucified.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Right away, the Bruins allowed point-blank chances to Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner in the opening minutes that Swayman stopped.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The strikes temporarily disrupted the spacecraft’s electrical systems, but quick action by mission control kept the mission on track.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
But oil bound for Asia from this new exit point still has to pass through Bab el-Mandeb to avoid the long way around, meaning it could be disrupted.—
Flavio Macau,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After letting out a cathartic scream, Madigan giggled.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Taking a deep breath, the Quantico alum giggled and then, leaning over, plunged her face straight into the ice.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20up. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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