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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of breaking
After a strikeout for the second out, Newport batter Noah Whitaker, with Horsley breaking for third base and Hatfield for second, was called out for batter’s interference on Ganesha catcher Dyson Grant’s throw to second base, a throw that sailed into center field.
—
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Wallen previously lodged 37 song entries, breaking his previous record of 36 entries in a single week.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 May 2026
That signals almost nothing about whether the candidate can be trusted to ship a contract, close a customer or run a finance close using AI as leverage without breaking the process.
—Ramiro Gonzalez Forcada, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
An oppressive heat wave has settled over western Europe and was blamed for multiple deaths in France, while breaking all-time May temperature records around the region.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 26 May 2026
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
—Keely Bastow, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2026
Well, there is obviously a need for rules pertaining to governing college sports, but until schools are scared of the penalties that come with breaking them, not much is going to change.
—Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
The most important challenge is breaking the virus transmission chain, Muyembe said.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
Download the Star app on iOS or Android to get breaking news alerts.
—Sofi Zeman
may 19, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Wallen previously lodged 37 song entries, breaking his previous record of 36 entries in a single week.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 May 2026
That signals almost nothing about whether the candidate can be trusted to ship a contract, close a customer or run a finance close using AI as leverage without breaking the process.
—Ramiro Gonzalez Forcada, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
An oppressive heat wave has settled over western Europe and was blamed for multiple deaths in France, while breaking all-time May temperature records around the region.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 26 May 2026
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
—Keely Bastow, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2026
Well, there is obviously a need for rules pertaining to governing college sports, but until schools are scared of the penalties that come with breaking them, not much is going to change.
—Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
The most important challenge is breaking the virus transmission chain, Muyembe said.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
Download the Star app on iOS or Android to get breaking news alerts.
—Sofi Zeman
may 19, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking
Verb
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Lastly, azelaic acid can help reduce redness and breakouts gently, without disrupting the skin’s ecosystem.—
Tatiana Dias,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
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Jim also reiterated his view that concerns about AI disrupting cybersecurity have proven misguided as digital threats become increasingly sophisticated.—
Alexa LoMonaco,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Most of the night went on without a hitch, with several show-stopping moments bringing the audience to their feet, but like every live event, there were a few flubs and a couple eyebrow-raising choices.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
26 May 2026
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The four-time Grand Slam champion also recently wore a show-stopping outfit at the Met Gala in New York.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Verb
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The majority-Republican House Committee on Appropriations proposed on Wednesday less extreme but still substantial cuts, slashing 20% from the agency and reducing funding to the state clean water programs by almost 25%.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
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On the next play, an Evans flyout scored Rey, reducing the deficit to 6-3.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Currently, judges in California courts are responsible for deciphering the nuances of California’s Invasion of Privacy law.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
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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
Verb
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Wilson has pledged to a customary standstill, pausing public criticism of the company until 30 days before the nomination deadline for the 2028 annual meeting.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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That philosophy shaped our decisions, ranging from pausing new business in some areas, reducing exposure in concentrated catastrophe-prone regions, and resisting pressure to chase growth, to selling our homebuilder distribution network in 2025.—
Richard McCathron,
Fortune,
25 May 2026
Verb
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The effects of tilling, the practice of plowing the soil between crop seasons, have large regional differences.—
Hanqin Tian,
Fortune,
25 May 2026
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The effects of tilling, the practice of plowing the soil between crop seasons, have large regional differences.—
Hanqin Tian,
The Conversation,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Spencer Pratt filed a formal complaint accusing his opponent, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, of violating election laws by allegedly campaigning too close to a ballot box.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
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Two years later, the FBI raided the apartment of the company's founder, Shayne Coplan, as part of a probe into whether Polymarket was violating that agreement.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
27 May 2026
Verb
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As a former police officer my duties included investigating and solving tough problems to improve people’s day-to-day lives.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
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Now neither person is solving the problem.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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