Synonyms of broken
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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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as in fractured
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as in stopped
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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 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 ruined
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as in originated
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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 emerged
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Example Sentences
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Entries Near
1
as in shattered
forcibly separated into many pieces
a broken vase that could not be repaired
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2
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline
the broken rim of the antique vase greatly reduces its value
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3
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
that portion of the hiking trail consists of a long, broken mountain ridge
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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
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2
as in stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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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
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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
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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
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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
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7
as in violated
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
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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
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9
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in stalled
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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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
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12
as in worn
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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13
as in spread
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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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
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15
as in originated
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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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
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17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of broken
Brett Berk, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2025
Some CEOs step directly into their roles, but some of us got here the long way—by fixing broken processes, building systems ourselves and earning trust on the front lines before becoming CEO.
—Raja Walia, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
If the piece was indeed destroyed, Warner may have broken the law.
—Andrew Travers, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for broken
Adjective
For those who reside anywhere with broken pavement and steep curb cuts, the lack of a mechanism for lifting the Volante’s front end seems like an oversight, especially since the car’s enhanced hood length and deep seating position place that area at greater risk due to the driver’s perspective.
—Brett Berk, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2025
Some CEOs step directly into their roles, but some of us got here the long way—by fixing broken processes, building systems ourselves and earning trust on the front lines before becoming CEO.
—Raja Walia, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
If an enterprise seems broken, Diamandis’s impulse is not to fix it but to start a new one.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
If the piece was indeed destroyed, Warner may have broken the law.
—Andrew Travers, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for broken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
Adjective
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Hundreds of thousands sheltering in shattered buildings of the city have been left to fend for themselves after the fall of Hamas’ policing apparatus.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
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Summoners pulled through Mary’s shattered mirror are often skinned alive.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The cast rattles off the snappy dialogue, jagged with tension and menace, in performances that wink just slyly enough at the wry, knowing way that the characters deploy—and embody—gangland stereotypes.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
28 Aug. 2025
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At Helligdomsklipperne, waves slam against jagged rock—echoing through hidden caves.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Boise State played an uneven first half in Tampa, fumbling twice and committing a huge penalty that gave life to a South Florida touchdown drive.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Aug. 2025
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This isn’t because the devices don’t work, but rather because the NHS has faced barriers like high upfront costs, limited specialist staff and slow, uneven implementation of national guidance.—
Kath Mackay,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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He was sent to intensive care and fractured his leg following the incident.—
Thomas Schlachter,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
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Both hands were fractured, as well as his wrist, femur, and foot.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When asked why all shoppers didn’t get the notice, an Amazon spokesperson said the notice was sent to customers who registered for the Prime Invitee Program between the program's launch in 2009 and 2015, when the program stopped accepting new members.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Providence is on a mission after being stopped two years in a row in the supersectional round.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While the case garnered global acclaim, Captain Terauchi was demoted to a desk job for ’embarrassing’ the airline, only to be reinstated later.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
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The Royals will need to decide which player will be demoted to make room.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Those sent on the trip filmed and recorded their upcoming opponents' signs, which Stalions then deciphered.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Metabolism has grown into one of the biggest buzzwords in the wellness industry — a tricky code that, if deciphered, is believed to unlock the secrets of weight loss and overall health.—
Lauren Kim,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The AfD was classified as a right-wing extremist organization by Germany's spy agency in May, but the description has been paused because of an appeal pending in court.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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While some borrowers may be opting to keep their payments paused, others who want to get out of the SAVE forbearance are struggling to do so, Kantrowitz said.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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