1
as in to disband
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization
the band broke up when their arguments over money grew too stressful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to come to an end
the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to divide
to set or force apart
he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to crack
to yield to mental or emotional stress
the sort of person who would be among the first to break up in a prisoner of war camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to cease
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
if you break up during the skit, the audience will know that you're in on the joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in split
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces
the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism pretty much signaled the end of the Cold War
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 break up
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2025
Mondlane’s team said in a statement posted on Facebook that his whereabouts were not known after police broke up the march.
—Reuters, NBC News, 6 Mar. 2025
Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
Pop-music history is filled to the brim with breakups — endless tales of heartbreak, vengeance, and despair.
—Ryan Leas, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
James wrote almost all the songs on the Damned’s first two albums, but following a poor critical reception to their 1977 sophomore effort, Music for Pleasure, the band temporarily broke up.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2025
Mondlane’s team said in a statement posted on Facebook that his whereabouts were not known after police broke up the march.
—Reuters, NBC News, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
Fans booed loudly amid the fallout from a messy breakup after the Kings traded a franchise great who spent almost eight seasons in Sacramento.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
Pop-music history is filled to the brim with breakups — endless tales of heartbreak, vengeance, and despair.
—Ryan Leas, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
-
After taking office, President Trump was quick to disband a long COVID advisory committee that took months to stand-up.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2025
-
The Context President Donald Trump and billionaire SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency have laid off tens of thousands of federal workers and disbanded a number of federal agencies since Trump took office as part of an effort to dramatically shrink the size of the government.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The water tank is a great place to stop and eat a pack lunch.—
John Meyer,
The Denver Post,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Because right now, Russian strikes have not stopped.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Only one point and two places divide Fabian Hurzeler’s side in seventh from City in fifth with 10 games to go.—
Andy Naylor,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
-
One Mom Has Had Enough When one Texas mom took to TikTok to share her daughter's heartbreak over being bullied for having a knockoff Stanley cup, the response was divided.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
On the flip side, this will allow AI to crack ciphers much faster.—
Chaim Mazal,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
-
And while Joan wasn't there to crack a joke or steal the spotlight, the 57-year-old bride made sure her mom was part of the celebration.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Disney investors on Thursday voted down a proposal that the entertainment giant cease its participation in a prominent LGBTQ rights organization’s equality ratings program.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2025
-
However, this does not mean that nuclear waste storage has ceased to be an issue.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Removing this dam would not only disrupt that balance but could also have severe consequences for the City of Elgin.—
Courier-News,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2025
-
As the World Economic Forum reports, 44% of workers' skills will be disrupted in the next four years, with cognitive skills growing in importance most rapidly.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
People can be heard laughing in the background of the video as the photographer is captured standing across the street with her camera pointed to the glass window.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
13 Mar. 2025
-
My thought was interrupted when Bayes instructed us to laugh very hard.—
Priscilla Posada,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Economists say the voting split of Thursday will be closely watched.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
19 Mar. 2025
-
The five board members who favored the split live in Keller; the two who opposed it live in Fort Worth. Since January, a group of residents led by Dixie Davis have been circulating a petition to garner support for a single-member voting system for school board elections.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to break up
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share