broken 1 of 2

Definition of brokennext
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broken

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verb

past participle of break
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as in demoted
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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as in deciphered
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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as in plowed
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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as in stalled
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day

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as in ruined
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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as in emerged
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 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 broken
Adjective
One woman suffered broken bones in her leg, pelvis and jaw, along with broken teeth. Richard Ramos, CBS News, 28 May 2026 As of today, Medicare covers the cost of a broken hip, but not the equipment that might have prevented injury. Adaira Landry, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Verb
Netflix has broken the theatrical window, giving studios more flexibility in scheduling promotions. Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026 Ingvartsen had broken the 2-2 tie just moments earlier, with his seventh goal in seven matches. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for broken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
Adjective
  • The early bones were too shattered to identify.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
  • In 1987, members of the national media praised Minnesotans for their joyous and generally family-friendly celebration of the Twins’ first World Series title, free of the shattered windows, tear gas and burning cars.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • The humble insects, which have jagged wings and fuzzy, thick legs, migrate every year from the Sierra Nevada to warmer coastal areas in winter, laying eggs which grow into caterpillars and eventually new butterflies.
    Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
  • Seismic images of mid-ocean ridges typically show rough and jagged terrain, formed when lava oozes up into the cold ocean along faults or fissures and hardens suddenly into stone.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026
Adjective
  • Drafty rooms, open windows, ceiling fans, and uneven surfaces can disrupt the flame, causing uneven melting, excessive soot, or wax that burns faster on one side than the other.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
  • This noncomodegenic and fragrance-free serum foundation helps smooth redness and uneven skin texture.
    Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Investigators are reviewing security video and interviewing witnesses as rail service remains disrupted and residents of the quiet town of Buggenhout gather to mourn the young victims.
    Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
  • The authors warn that this concentration creates systemic risks beyond bias — if a single dominant vendor goes offline or is found to be producing discriminatory outcomes, hiring at thousands of employers could be disrupted simultaneously.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • Video from the scene showed the rollout turning into an almost ceremonial moment, as the garage stopped and watched in silence as the Chevrolet was wheeled out.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
  • According to police, the driver stopped the bus at the intersection of East 65th Street and Avenue U, then a vehicle with multiple people inside pulled up next to the bus.
    Katie Houlis, CBS News, 24 May 2026
Verb
  • Who stays in the rotation and who gets demoted to the bullpen?
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
  • People management, on its own, is being quietly demoted.
    Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • As a preface, the conclusion here, deciphered from the scene by this author, was a plea for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 16 May 2026
  • By slow degrees, Philip’s story shifts to accommodate the incontrovertible evidence of IP addresses and deciphered cryptography and Lucy struggles to keep up, let alone understand.
    Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Investment decisions into some data center projects in the region have been paused or are taking longer as the conflict continues.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 25 May 2026
  • Insurers, including us, have paused new business, reduced exposure, and raised rates in some areas.
    Richard McCathron, Fortune, 25 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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