Synonyms of breaking
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as in disrupting
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as in stopping
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as in reducing
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as in deciphering
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as in pausing
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as in plowing
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as in violating
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as in solving
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as in damaging
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as in dying
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as in retreating
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as in wearing
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as in spreading
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as in bankrupting
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as in originating
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as in veering
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as in lowering
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as in exceeding
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as in surfacing
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Example Sentences
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Phrases Containing
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Entries Near
1
as in disrupting
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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2
as in stopping
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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3
as in reducing
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 deciphering
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 pausing
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
as in plowing
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows
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7
as in violating
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 solving
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 damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in dying
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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11
as in retreating
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 wearing
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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13
as in spreading
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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14
as in bankrupting
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
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15
as in originating
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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16
as in veering
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 lowering
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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18
as in exceeding
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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19
as in surfacing
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below
dolphins were breaking all around the boat
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breaking
Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations and breaking news for USA TODAY.
—
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The passengers include the requisite obnoxious jerk, Dan (Angus Sampson), already throwing his weight around and breaking no-smoking rules at LAX.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Maloney was also successful at FIU, breaking the program bowl-game record for most catches (10) and most receiving yards (178).
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
From a decades-old murder case cracked by DNA and facial recognition to a tribal nation breaking ground on a major Elk Grove resort, here are the top stories in the Sacramento region on Monday, Apil 27.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Even after the war started, the volatile market started breaking records again.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Other quirky clips included her impromptu bouquet toss and high heels nearly breaking.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
To keep the parts from breaking, researchers are fine-tuning the metal to withstand constant stretching and squeezing.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Strings said, referring to the throne Grohl used to perform with Foo Fighters after breaking his leg during a show in 2015.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The passengers include the requisite obnoxious jerk, Dan (Angus Sampson), already throwing his weight around and breaking no-smoking rules at LAX.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Maloney was also successful at FIU, breaking the program bowl-game record for most catches (10) and most receiving yards (178).
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
From a decades-old murder case cracked by DNA and facial recognition to a tribal nation breaking ground on a major Elk Grove resort, here are the top stories in the Sacramento region on Monday, Apil 27.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Even after the war started, the volatile market started breaking records again.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Other quirky clips included her impromptu bouquet toss and high heels nearly breaking.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
To keep the parts from breaking, researchers are fine-tuning the metal to withstand constant stretching and squeezing.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Strings said, referring to the throne Grohl used to perform with Foo Fighters after breaking his leg during a show in 2015.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking
Verb
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Suggs set the tone for the series in the opening quarter of Game 1, disrupting Pistons passes, sinking a pair of 3-pointers and belly-flopping to the floor to collect a loose basketball.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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Rather than relying on a future sale, many owners are proactively planning how to fund taxes and expenses without disrupting operations.—
Fennemore,
Oc Register,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That led many to believe that, while treatments and crisis care are vital, the goal of suicide prevention needs to expand beyond stopping people from dying to also giving them reasons to live.—
Aneri Pattani,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These will compete with strawberries for nutrients and space—worse, cabbage leaves will create shade, reducing flower and fruit production.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
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Supporters of a rescue including labor unions representing Spirit’s pilots, flight attendants and ramp workers said a collapse would put thousands of Americans out of work and hurt consumers by reducing airline competition and increasing airfares.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The study creates new criteria for deciphering old dice and allows archaeologists to further explore how games have evolved over time, researchers say.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
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The clicks are part of a growing sperm whale phonetic alphabet that researchers at CETI are deciphering.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The concept of everyone coming together for one evening — and pausing their competition for the good of the overall TV business — had some legs.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
7 May 2026
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Nearly two years have elapsed since Virgin Galactic last flew civilian passengers to space in June 2024 before pausing its spaceflight program.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Companies were plowing hundreds of billions of dollars, much of it borrowed, into building new data centers, but had no clear path to profitability.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2026
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The Eta Aquariids, sparked by Earth plowing through debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, peak on the night of May 5 to 6.—
Michael d'Estries,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Appeal-Democrat newspaper reported in a police blotter article last summer that Daniels was arrested on July 11 on suspicion of drug possession and violating parole, and he was booked then at the Yuba County Jail.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
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He was twice arrested for protesting on OpenAI’s San Francisco campus, and arrested again in 2025 for violating a judge’s order not to return.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The sheep rise to the occasion and use all the mental mystery-solving skills George and his stories have left behind.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
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The one-million-cubic-meter-level salt cavern hydrogen storage demonstration project began operation in Pingdingshan on Saturday, signaling progress in solving one of hydrogen energy’s biggest challenges.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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