1
as in fractures
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in rifts
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in pulls
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in explodes
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar 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 ruptures
Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
Trends from one year to the next should be understood as shifts in emphasis, rather than stark ruptures.
—Marc Zao-Sanders, Harvard Business Review, 1 June 2026
Reflecting on these piercing paradoxes, Dusabejambo’s narrative (co-written with Delphine Agut) cannot but be shaped by them; there are no simple resolutions for a reality defined by ruptures and ragged edges.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 May 2026
Researchers now say structurally complex regions inside the fault act as barriers that limit how far earthquake ruptures can travel.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
That probability also doesn't capture the full hazard in southern Cascadia, where evidence suggests that partial-margin ruptures of magnitude 8 and lower could occur, and even sooner, Kidiwela said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 14 May 2026
To ensure this new technology is safe for the public, and to mitigate the inevitable economic ruptures, the government needs to step in and regulate it in the public interest.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
To ensure this new technology is safe for the public, and to mitigate the inevitable economic ruptures, the government needs to step in and regulate it in the public interest.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
While not a precise scientific designation, a megaquake is generally considered a large seismic event placed at an eight or higher on the Richter scale that ruptures along major faults and can trigger further events like tsunamis.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026
The heat ruptures the cell walls in the leaves, causing desiccation and ultimately killing the weed.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
If the plaque within one of the coronary arteries suddenly ruptures, a blood clot forms on its surface.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 28 Nov. 2025
And this collision is very intense, but full of life and disobedience, and ruptures morality.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
The infection becomes dangerous when a cyst ruptures — most often due to trauma — and may even lead to death if cyst fluid is released into the body.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
Trends from one year to the next should be understood as shifts in emphasis, rather than stark ruptures.
—Marc Zao-Sanders, Harvard Business Review, 1 June 2026
Reflecting on these piercing paradoxes, Dusabejambo’s narrative (co-written with Delphine Agut) cannot but be shaped by them; there are no simple resolutions for a reality defined by ruptures and ragged edges.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 May 2026
Researchers now say structurally complex regions inside the fault act as barriers that limit how far earthquake ruptures can travel.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
That probability also doesn't capture the full hazard in southern Cascadia, where evidence suggests that partial-margin ruptures of magnitude 8 and lower could occur, and even sooner, Kidiwela said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 14 May 2026
To ensure this new technology is safe for the public, and to mitigate the inevitable economic ruptures, the government needs to step in and regulate it in the public interest.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
To ensure this new technology is safe for the public, and to mitigate the inevitable economic ruptures, the government needs to step in and regulate it in the public interest.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
While not a precise scientific designation, a megaquake is generally considered a large seismic event placed at an eight or higher on the Richter scale that ruptures along major faults and can trigger further events like tsunamis.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
The boiling water creates intense thermal shock that instantly ruptures the plant's cell walls, melting its protective waxy coating and causing the foliage to collapse and dehydrate, effectively cooking the plant tissue.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026
The heat ruptures the cell walls in the leaves, causing desiccation and ultimately killing the weed.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
If the plaque within one of the coronary arteries suddenly ruptures, a blood clot forms on its surface.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 28 Nov. 2025
And this collision is very intense, but full of life and disobedience, and ruptures morality.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruptures
Noun
-
Osteoporotic fractures are responsible for more hospitalizations than heart attacks, strokes, and breast cancer combined, at $400,000 per hip fracture patient per year in care costs.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Upon arriving at the hospital, doctors determined that the colorful bird — belonging to the same family as crows and jays — had left quite a bit of damage, including multiple fractures in Montalva's left cheekbone and a rare fracture of the hyoid bone in her neck.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The shock departure deepens Starmer’s political woes, exposing cabinet rifts with the Treasury over defense priorities and fueling Labour unrest and speculation that his grip on power is slipping.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
The breastfeeding billing battle UnitedHealthcare is cutting back on paying for lactation counseling, and the clinicians who provide those services are up in arms, another example of the deepening rifts between providers and insurers.—
Bob Herman,
STAT,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Shoppers are gravitating toward scents that double as emotional rituals, whether that means a warm vanilla, a sweet caramel or a fruit-and-cream gourmand that pulls double duty as a comfort scent.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
-
The Ed Sullivan Theater, the crowd is full, the curtain pulls, people are cheering, and David Letterman walks out.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
But a couple of pages later, his capsule encounters a meteoroid which explodes nearby.—
Neil Oseman,
Space.com,
14 June 2026
-
Most newcomers fade out or establish only a small population, but every so often a species explodes on the scene and becomes problematic.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
So, too, does the idea that a soccer coach could close fissures that even the well-meaning among career politicians have failed to seal.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
-
The group is particularly interested in suspending, fracturing, and reconstructing time through which othered bodies and identities pass, and in exploring the attendant emerging fissures.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
As the country heads toward a national election, the leader once celebrated as a healer is now viewed by critics as the main driver of these schisms.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
Given the schisms, some in the GOP believe only a single party-line bill may end up passing before November.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The audience never sees the monstrous version of Naim that Ryan is so afraid of, one that rips his skin apart and bruises him, cementing Naim’s position as the story’s narrator.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
19 June 2026
-
Continue reading … GLOVES OFF — Fired '60 Minutes' veteran rips new bosses as incompetent, claims pro-Trump bias.—
,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Just as the pair were celebrating finally taking Evan off-island for father-son bonding time on the mainland, a knock on the door bursts their bubble.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
-
Haaland bursts our bubble almost immediately by scoring in the opening five minutes, and Burnley miss a few good first-half chances, with striker Zian Flemming particularly culpable.—
Nnamdi Onyeagwara,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruptures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruptures. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
