broken up 1 of 2

broken up

2 of 2

verb

past participle of break up
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
3
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
6
7

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 broken up
Verb
All fell incomplete, including a pass near the goal line that was broken up by San Francisco rookie Ephesians Prysock. ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 During the same period, Justin Fields had a pass intended for wide receiver Jason Brownlee broken up by cornerback D’Arco Perkins-McAllister. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026 That was broken up by Owens, who stomped Gunther and then caught him with a big clothesline. Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 His deepest attempt, for tight end Terrance Ferguson, was broken up by cornerback Cam Lampkin. Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026 Two strong innings by McLean were broken up by a leadoff homer by Kyle Tucker, the outfielder who nearly signed with the Mets until a last-minute decision to sign a free agent contract with the two-time defending World Series champs. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026 Nicola Otamendi also exchanged words with several Spain players, including their captain Rodrí before that skirmish was broken up. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026 Of those, Shamrock V, Endeavour, and Velsheda, all British boats, were the only survivors, while the six American examples were broken up for scrap. Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 18 July 2026 Rather, how that time is accumulated, and whether it's broken up with physical activity, also have a notable impact. Adam England, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken up
Adjective
  • Instead, the people most comfortable with science and numbers were also the most divided along cultural and political lines over climate risk.
    Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Daza Olivas was placed under arrest and transported to Troop H where he was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and driving the wrong way on a divided highway, according to state police.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The band formed in New York City in 1973, and disbanded for the first time in 1978 after the release of their sophomore album.
    Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The task force disbanded in February 1993, according to Iowa Cold Cases.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Hutton wanted to stay in the game after his playing career ended.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Woodland, who entered the final 18-hole round tied for fourth place, six shots behind eventual champion Wyndham Clark, ended Sunday’s round in that same fourth-place slot with Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup following rounds of 64-65-70-69.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This caused the prehistoric Tethys Ocean, which once separated the supercontinents of Laurasia and Gondwana, to shrink.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers also had to build specialized rooftop facilities and integrate their optics, control systems, communications equipment, quantum sources, and detectors so that equipment separated by 21 kilometers could operate as one experiment.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • That had to be daunting for a Pakistan side that hasn't cracked 200 in three previous innings in the series.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Videos show crowds trying to flee a surging wall of mud, rows of buses and trucks swept aside like toys, and bridges cracked apart and swept away.
    Josh Feldman, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • After loading the AliExpress homepage, audio from his phone stopped playing over his multipoint headphones, which accept connections from more than one device at a time.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
  • His wife, Sheila, has also stopped working to serve as his full-time caregiver.
    sameen, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Efforts to bring the outbreak under control — from limited public gatherings to social distancing and airport closures — have disrupted life in the six affected provinces, particularly Ituri, which has been ravaged by rebel violence.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The choices of what to put in each episode — and when to cut from one timeline to another — have sometimes felt arbitrary, and have often disrupted the story’s overall flow.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The dynamic duo giggled and hugged as curious onlookers took out their iPhones and started snapping away.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The quarterback, 30, could be seen smiling as Bronze giggled and Golden looked directly at the camera.
    Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Broken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20up. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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