Synonyms of break
-
as in to disrupt 
-
as in to stop
-
as in to reduce
-
as in to decipher
-
as in to pause
-
as in to plow
-
as in to violate
-
as in to solve
-
as in to damage
-
as in to die
-
as in to retreat
-
as in to wear
-
as in to circulate
-
as in to ruin
-
as in to begin
-
as in to veer
-
as in to depress
-
as in to exceed
-
as in to surface
-
as in pause
-
as in vacation
-
as in gap
-
as in opportunity
-
as in accident
-
as in escape
-
Example Sentences
-
Phrases Containing
-
Related Articles
-
Entries Near
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in to damage
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 to die
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in to wear
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 to circulate
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
15
as in to begin
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
17
as in to depress
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
a desperate break from that hellhole
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 break
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
His injuries included eight ribs broken in 14 places, right knee and ankle broken, left leg tibia broken, left ankle broken, right clavicle broken, right shoulder broken and more.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 2 Jan. 2025
Mia Taylor, Parents, 16 Jan. 2025
The engagement is certainly a nice break from the recent drama in Pats land - after New England’s season finale, the team fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, a move that has been heavily criticized by ex-Patriots.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for break 
Verb
Two of The Beatles’ releases break back onto the charts in the United Kingdom this frame.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
His injuries included eight ribs broken in 14 places, right knee and ankle broken, left leg tibia broken, left ankle broken, right clavicle broken, right shoulder broken and more.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
And when gaming becomes too much, advise a child to go on break and put their own welfare first.
—Mia Taylor, Parents, 16 Jan. 2025
The engagement is certainly a nice break from the recent drama in Pats land - after New England’s season finale, the team fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, a move that has been heavily criticized by ex-Patriots.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for break
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Verb
-
As the region grapples with the sheer number of homes and buildings destroyed, livelihoods disrupted and lives lost, its signature industry will face yet another setback in the loss of go-to filming spots, particularly in the Altadena area and Pacific Palisades.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2025
-
While many organizations prioritize technology, additional areas outside the technological realm can disrupt security capabilities and affect vulnerability management.—
Dewayne Hart,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Alhassan unleashed a vicious combination of punches on the Brazilian, who appeared to be moments away from being stopped.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
12 Jan. 2025
-
Then, the winning-ugly model stopped winning and the losses were ugly.—
Matthew Futterman,
The Athletic,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Tailor For Expense Reduction Messaging When crafting your capabilities statement, customize it to showcase how your business can help agencies reduce costs: • Use metrics to quantify savings from previous contracts.—
Col. Rafael Marrero,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
-
And the disaster has exposed holes in the region's preparations to reduce the chances of fires getting so unmanageable and to keep communities safer.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
In deciphering sagas of eons past, astronomers find few examples more intriguing than Messier 67, or M67, which is a large, loosely bound group of sun-like stars dwelling in the outskirts of the Milky Way, our home galaxy.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2025
-
This is where unified customer/retailer data will play a big role — deciphering behavior drivers to find more customers.—
Lauren Parker,
WWD,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Last week, Supreme Court justices heard arguments about whether to step in and temporarily pause the measure or let the ban go forward.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Senior administration officials declined to speculate on how the Trump administration may change or pause the Medicare drug price negotiation program.—
Joseph Choi,
The Hill,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
There's a race underway around the world, and the Europeans and others have plowed a lot of not just resources, but prioritization, in being the leaders on the next sort of revolution in industrial technologies.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
-
The wildfire plowing through homes in California's Pacific Palisades was at Tiptoe's doorstep that Tuesday, forcing Doran and her extended family to flee with the 175-pound reptile in tow.—
Alina Hartounian,
NPR,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The popular social media platform says the law violates the First Amendment and should be struck down.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2025
-
In 2024, the border agency removed more than 14,000 foreign nationals from Canada for violating the same law, according to Purdy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Putting Graham on the defensive line with Josh Hines-Allen, Arik Armstead and Travon Walker could solve a lot of those problems. 6.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Not a delusional optimism, but an ability to focus on problems that can be solved.—
Shawn Hubler,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near break
Cite this Entry
“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share