Synonyms of break
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as in to disrupt
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1
as in to disrupt
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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Relevance
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2
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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3
as in to reduce
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 to decipher
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 to pause
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
7
as in to violate
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 to solve
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 to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in to die
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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11
as in to retreat
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 to wear
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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13
as in to circulate
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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14
15
as in to begin
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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16
as in to veer
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 to depress
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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18
as in to exceed
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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1
as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity
there was a brief break after the first movement as the doors to the concert hall were opened and the latecomers were allowed in
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2
as in vacation
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended
most of the students at the boarding school are going home for Christmas break
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3
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
the rancher repaired the break in the fence where the horse had gotten through
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4
5
as in accident
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events
a guy who just seems to get all the breaks in life
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6
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
a desperate break from that hellhole
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of break
Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Wide receiver Beau Sparks broke the school receptions record, collecting 84 catches for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 6 Jan. 2026
Brian Anthony Hernandez, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
Rather, Metropolitan evokes the youthful experience of being home, avoiding family, and clinging to friends during the holiday break, when responsibility remains over the horizon and your whole life is still ahead of you.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break
Verb
Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital.
—Noun
The segment includes a viral dance break.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Verb
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Bullet train services were temporarily disrupted, and cameras mounted on buildings showed visible shaking.—
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However, drinking caffeinated tea too late in the day can disrupt sleep.—
Verb
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Several vehicles that stopped behind her appear to belong to federal agents, based on activity observed in other videos.—
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The prioritization for that new safety should probably be in coverage skills, because Moehrig and Ransom are known more for their run-stopping and tackling prowesses.—
Verb
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During his January 2025 State of the State address, Little called for tax cuts that could reduce the state’s general fund by about $100 million.—
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To reduce sizes, builders are going back to open floor plans with fewer hallways.—
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So, the thinking went, every costume, prop, and line reading is there for a reason, infinite symbolism scattered across the frame for anyone determined enough to decipher it.—
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By building out a picture of the whales’ health, habits and diet, researchers are deciphering the many ways humans impact their lives and guiding conservation actions that may mean life or death for the orcas.—
Verb
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Burnett pauses, considers the question, and then flashes a mischievous grin.—
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The Supreme Court clarified that the attorney general’s civil investigative demand for payroll records alone did not pause the statute of limitations, but the legal resistance to it did.—
Verb
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This is part of their pretreatment strategy to make the roads much easier to plow.—
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Just keep in mind that side roads may not be cleared or plowed as regularly as main highways.—
Verb
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In October 2025, Beckerink pleaded no contest to domestic violence charges in connection to two incidents at Tracey's home in New Buffalo, Michigan, as well as one count of contempt for violating his bond, and was sentenced to 93 days in jail.—
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The lawsuit argues the freeze violated federal law, including the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional limits on executive power and how Congress appropriates funds.—
Verb
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For example, in ecological matters, the only way to solve the problem is to continue advancing technologically.—
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But the show’s primary perspective also seems to be that Kingstown’s problems are so impossible to solve that only someone like Mike — with no official affiliation — can mitigate against the worst possible outcome.—
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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