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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of broken up
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
And so my surreal day-to-day, a regular life broken up by suspensions of my rights, stopped mattering.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
Bands that had broken up have reformed, playing bigger venues than ever and creating some of the best music of their careers.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 15 May 2026
In a medium bowl, mash cream cheese with a fork until broken up.
—Midwest Living, 15 May 2026
Some at Intel still believe the company should be broken up, to split manufacturing and product design and accelerate progress.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
When the Canes’ forecheck attempts were broken up by Ottawa, Ehlers’ puck-moving and transition game came in clutch.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 1 May 2026
The soil must be broken up or aerated so moisture can penetrate the surface.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
It’s broken up into elements water, fire, earth and void.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
His perfect parade was broken up by an error in the fourth inning when miscommunication between Andy Pages and Kyle Tucker led to Trea Turner’s fly ball glancing off Tucker’s glove and dropping to the warning track uncaught.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
And so my surreal day-to-day, a regular life broken up by suspensions of my rights, stopped mattering.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
Bands that had broken up have reformed, playing bigger venues than ever and creating some of the best music of their careers.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 15 May 2026
In a medium bowl, mash cream cheese with a fork until broken up.
—Midwest Living, 15 May 2026
Some at Intel still believe the company should be broken up, to split manufacturing and product design and accelerate progress.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
When the Canes’ forecheck attempts were broken up by Ottawa, Ehlers’ puck-moving and transition game came in clutch.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 1 May 2026
The soil must be broken up or aerated so moisture can penetrate the surface.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
It’s broken up into elements water, fire, earth and void.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken up
Adjective
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Legislation on anything touching crypto moves at the pace of a divided Congress.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
The sentiment from those athletic directors and presidents who OutKick has spoken with in recent weeks is a divided one, but not in a hostile way.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Baldwin previously served as the president of the Log Cabin Republicans of Fort Worth, a political group for LGBTQ Republicans that has since disbanded because Baldwin said it wasn’t welcomed into the party.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
Longtime riding groups have disbanded.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The superintendent of the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District said that a shooting took place after the graduation ceremonies had ended.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
The SoCal Indie Bestsellers List for the sales week ended May 31 is based on reporting from the independent booksellers of Southern California, the California Independent Booksellers Alliance and IndieBound.—
Staff report,
Daily News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
They were separated at the time of the crash.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Months later, in January 2025, a girl, age 14 at the time, was assaulted after becoming separated from her friends, the CPS said.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Three members of Marshall’s family cracked a bottle of Champagne against the hull of the 746-foot USNS Thurgood Marshall, eliciting cheers at the very moment sunlight broke through the marine layer.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
-
Rafael Devers cracked a solo shot in the sixth and Matt Chapman hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in top of the ninth to put the Giants ahead 2-1, but their three game-win streak ended.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The catcher was hitless in his previous 30 at-bats before connecting for his first homer this season Saturday night, a two-run shot in the seventh inning of a 3-2 win that stopped San Diego's six-game losing streak.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
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In Pixar’s Cars, the Cozy Cone Motel was inspired by the Blue Swallow Motel, and Bob Dylan even stopped to paint it around 2019.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Fragmented sleep, irregular sleep timing, and disrupted circadian rhythms can all negatively affect your health.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
2 June 2026
-
Spurs deserve credit for acting swiftly and learning their lessons from last summer when the uncertainty over the future of then head coach Ange Postecoglou disrupted their plans and contributed to them missing out on key targets.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Verb
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But after the dust settled Saturday, La Habra’s senior softball players sat side-by-side on the grass, kicked off their cleats and giggled.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
7 June 2026
-
In the video, the couple could be seen with their hoods up and riding rented Citi Bikes on the streets of the Big Apple as Sweeney giggled and took her feet off the pedals.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20up. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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