Synonyms of broken
-
as in shattered 
-
as in jagged
-
as in uneven
-
as in fractured
-
as in stopped
-
as in demoted
-
as in deciphered
-
as in paused
-
as in plowed
-
as in violated
-
as in solved
-
as in damaged
-
as in stalled
-
as in bolted
-
as in worn
-
as in spread
-
as in ruined
-
as in originated
-
as in veered
-
as in reduced
-
as in exceeded
-
as in emerged
-
Example Sentences
-
Entries Near
1
as in shattered
forcibly separated into many pieces
a broken vase that could not be repaired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 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 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 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 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 originated
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
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
Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 June 2025
Police said she was found with severe injuries suggesting she’d been struck by a vehicle, including serious head trauma and several broken bones.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025
Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
When the pot was broken, the gifts would spill out, acting as an offering to Huitzilopochtli.
—Monica Navarro, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for broken
Adjective
There was an evolution of the broken suit, with softer shoulders.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 June 2025
Police said she was found with severe injuries suggesting she’d been struck by a vehicle, including serious head trauma and several broken bones.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025
Verb
Buffalo’s season is all but over, and the team has looked broken.
—Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
When the pot was broken, the gifts would spill out, acting as an offering to Huitzilopochtli.
—Monica Navarro, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for broken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
Adjective
-
When Squid Game first flung us into its arena of despair, questioning the status quo was the series’ fuel, and its narrative rhythm had the jagged urgency of that initial run of Red Light, Green Light.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
-
Another photo features a marshal with a long-range precision rifle mounted on a bipod, stationed on jagged ground with dramatic peaks in the backdrop.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Additionally, although each member of the crew has their own particular skillset, the time spent on individual characters is uneven, and a smaller cast would have likely made things more effective.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
25 June 2025
-
Moreover, the legal playing field itself can be quite uneven.—
Mark Berookim,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
When Millie Gooch stopped drinking at age 26, her friends had a hard time wrapping their heads around it.—
Malaka Gharib,
NPR,
8 Jan. 2025
-
For those of us who love the series, haven’t stopped playing it since it was released in October 2023, and who own every Alter Ego, this is good news.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Hackett was also demoted from his play-calling duties after Saleh was fired.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
When Schmidt returns to the majors next week, Will Warren will probably be demoted.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that the commission, by approving the plans, has violated their fundamental rights.—
Amy Green,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Months later, the Department of Justice concluded that five Texas juvenile detention centers violated children's constitutional and civil rights.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA TODAY,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
People only become dependent if every problem is solved for them.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
-
This under-desk walking pad solved my problem.—
Cecily McAndrews,
Health,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
After realizing the mother of three was awake, the intruder immediately bolted out out of the room.—
Vivian Kwarm,
New York Daily News,
17 Dec. 2024
-
An overdose episode — Kiana bolted barefoot from their rural home and went missing overnight in the woods — brought police attention and led to charges for child endangerment.—
John Branch,
New York Times,
24 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Face masks have been commonly worn in Japan for years in order to prevent illnesses from spreading, and as such, it’s considered a public courtesy to wear one while sick.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
25 June 2025
-
Despite the ban, unhealthy information on achieving extreme thinness continues to spread on social media.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share