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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Recent Examples of rupture
Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The Giants expect an earlier return from Skattebo, who sustained a dislocated right ankle, a fibula fracture and a deltoid ligament rupture in late October, requiring emergency surgery.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 20 Jan. 2026
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
In his first rodeo following open-heart surgery last March after a bull’s horn ruptured his tricuspid valve, Kippes stole the show on Wednesday at the National Western Stock Show.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rupture
Noun
Those arguments are coming solely from the White House, where Trump himself, with no meaningful assistance from policy experts, has run the United States headlong into a diplomatic rupture with its closest allies, Defense and State Department sources tell The Times.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The Giants expect an earlier return from Skattebo, who sustained a dislocated right ankle, a fibula fracture and a deltoid ligament rupture in late October, requiring emergency surgery.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
Officials confirmed the main that ruptured was an 8-inch cast-iron water main installed in 1925.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
In his first rodeo following open-heart surgery last March after a bull’s horn ruptured his tricuspid valve, Kippes stole the show on Wednesday at the National Western Stock Show.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rupture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rupture
Noun
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Okongwu left Wednesday night’s game in Boston after sustaining a dental fracture during the fourth quarter.—
Lauren Williams,
AJC.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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In a conference call with reporters, Nix contradicted his own head coach’s communication around the quarterback’s ankle fracture.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Rather than just showing these thinkers reciting their greatest hits, the longform discussions showcase all of the contradictions (and occasional rifts) between members of the same movement.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
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Rumors of a family rift had been swirling since Brooklyn married Nicola Peltz Beckham in April 2022.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Bulldogs pulled within 69-66 with just over nine minutes remaining, but the Aggies answered with back-to-back three-pointers from Ali Dibba and Jacari Lane to regain control.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
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Video shows the girl carefully pulling a coaster from the tower before the entire structure cascades downward in seconds, prompting audible reactions from spectators.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By the time Aubry came back for season 38, her head was swirling from her time in the reality television bubble, and her psyche was ready to burst.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
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Still, my pick is Astropical by the power duo Bomba Estéreo and Rawayana — a cosmic-tropical oasis bursting with vibrant sonic textures that feel both exhilarating and otherworldly.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The peak of Yosemite’s granite wall is higher than the tallest building in the world and requires climbers to navigate a maze of fissures, crevices and cracks.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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The fatal shooting sparked demonstrations nationwide and has deepened fissures between federal and state officials.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His resistance to releasing any more information caused a schism among his supporters (and contributed to the resignation of his longtime ally Marjorie Taylor Greene) and set Congress up for an easy win.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
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The primary has made a growing schism between progressives and democratic socialists in New York City apparent.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Why the operating assumptions remain fixed even when leaders recognize they're broken.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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In a letter to the court, one woman said surgeons installed a metal plate in her arm, which was broken by a bullet.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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It's now been 40 years since New Hampshire school teacher Christa McAuliffe died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Just more than a minute after ignition, the ruptured booster caused the shuttle’s giant external fuel tank to explode, tearing the vehicle to pieces over the ocean and dooming all seven astronauts.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rupture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rupture. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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