1
as in fracture
an opening caused by the sudden tearing or breaking of something
The earthquake created a rupture that spanned several miles. Doctors identified a rupture in his aorta.
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2
as in rift
the loss of good relations
The incident caused a diplomatic rupture between the two countries. They've been working to mend the rupture in their relationship.
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1
as in to fracture
to cause to develop a hole, crack, or tear often in a sudden and forceful or violent way
She was out for the rest of the season after she ruptured a tendon.
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2
as in to burst
to develop a hole, crack, or tear often in a sudden and forceful or violent way
The pipeline ruptured, leaking thousands of gallons of oil. The fault could rupture during the next major earthquake. High blood pressure caused the blood vessels to rupture.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rupture
Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
There have been earthquakes of this magnitude in the past that ruptured different segments of very long faults, creating the appearance of two different earthquakes but that were actually ruptures from the same event.
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Sylvain Barbot,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
Kasha Patel,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
The first time was during the 2024 playoffs, when Finch ruptured his patellar tendon during Game 4 of a first-round series against the Phoenix Suns.
—
Jason Quick,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rupture
Noun
The rupture, Schmitz said, raced up from the valley down to the sea, where movement was transferred to the San Sebastián fault, which separates the Caribbean plate from the South American plate.
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Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
There have been earthquakes of this magnitude in the past that ruptured different segments of very long faults, creating the appearance of two different earthquakes but that were actually ruptures from the same event.
—
Sylvain Barbot,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
Verb
Such a major quake starts at one location and propagates along the fault, rupturing different parts at different times.
—
Kasha Patel,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
The first time was during the 2024 playoffs, when Finch ruptured his patellar tendon during Game 4 of a first-round series against the Phoenix Suns.
—
Jason Quick,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rupture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rupture
Noun
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What was originally diagnosed as a concussion later was revealed to be a skull fracture.
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The Guardians are 4-7 since seven-time All-Star third baseman José Ramírez (left hamate bone fracture), Chase DeLauter (rib fracture) and Angel Martínez (left foot fracture) all were injured on June 13 against Detroit.
Noun
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The fallout from Batula and Wilson’s relationship caused some rifts in the friend group, and their exits were not entirely surprising.
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For a party that prides itself on diversity, the clashes have exacerbated fierce debates over identity politics and long-standing rifts between progressives and moderates.
Verb
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Fire alarms sounded after a resident pulled the alarm, prompting crews to evacuate buildings as a precaution.
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Sorloth played high, facilitating Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard to rotate wide and pull deeper to get on the ball.
Verb
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Without a care about the mud or the impending return to reality, the crowd relished the final moments of the festival as fireworks burst over the stage.
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In two places outside Berlin, the concrete of the A2 burst due to the high temperatures and the highway had to be closed.
Noun
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The fissure was visible before the war.
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So, too, does the idea that a soccer coach could close fissures that even the well-meaning among career politicians have failed to seal.
Noun
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Hussein’s killing cemented the schism between Sunni and Shiite Islam and remains a powerful symbol of resistance against oppression and injustice.
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Hussein’s killing is seen as having cemented the schism between Sunnis and Shiites, which stems from the early days of Islam and arguments over Muhammad’s successors as caliph, or leader.
Verb
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Puncture wounds are a classic example, but lacerations, fractures that break the skin, burns, crush injuries and even relatively minor cuts can also pose a risk if they are contaminated with dirt or debris.
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Verb
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Online sales boomed and Nekhala said his business exploded.
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Software engineers have arguably been the first class of workers to see the technology upend their jobs, as programming tools like Anthropic’s Claude Code and OpenAI’s Codex have exploded in popularity.
Cite this Entry
“Rupture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rupture. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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