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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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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 broken
Adjective
Doctors at Norton's Children's Hospital in Louisville later confirmed the child had a broken right leg and determined the injuries were consistent with physical child abuse. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 20 Dec. 2024 Many of the patients were critically ill and moaning in pain from broken bones, head gashes and other injuries blamed on Tropical Storm Helene. Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
His team record was broken by Bernard King 25 years later. Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024 Other records broken across league Outside of Jefferson’s historic mark, there were several other noteworthy records broken across Sunday’s games. Ben Morse, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for broken 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
Adjective
  • Winding roads diving deep between steep hillsides littered with jagged deadfall and boulder-size talus, towns few and far between.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2024
  • But when a kayaking trip goes horribly wrong, Mum is suddenly gone forever and Hazel is left with crippling anxiety and a jagged scar on her face.
    Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Economic Instability: The Fourth Turning signals economic disruption, with uneven income growth and widespread insecurity.
    Bob Haber, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
  • But changes to the original text result in a talky microcosm with uneven performance rhythms (John David Washington is boisterous, frantic, and out of sync).
    Armond White, National Review, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The North Carolina State Highway Patrol stopped the car on I-40 near the Duplin County line using a PIT maneuver, according to the release.
    Alexandra Koch, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Crucial Buccaneers drives were stopped dead in its tracks.
    Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Hackett was demoted earlier this season and Downing — hired as the passing game coordinator after LaFleur was fired — has taken over play-calling.
    Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
  • The two employment decision makers who denied Ames a promotion and demoted her were not gay.
    Michelle Travis, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that the commission, by approving the plans, has violated their fundamental rights.
    Amy Green, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Months later, the Department of Justice concluded that five Texas juvenile detention centers violated children's constitutional and civil rights.
    Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • This issue will not be solved by a one-time cut.
    Doug Criscitello, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Bob also sees a slight cautionary tale about stardom, its loneliness, and the fact that that problem doesn't necessarily get solved just by having a band.
    Simon Thompson, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • After realizing the mother of three was awake, the intruder immediately bolted out out of the room.
    Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 17 Dec. 2024
  • An overdose episode — Kiana bolted barefoot from their rural home and went missing overnight in the woods — brought police attention and led to charges for child endangerment.
    John Branch, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • If the Communists won — if their revolution spread across the world, leaving nothing behind but misery and death — then the last best hope of Earth would vanish.
    Matthew Continetti, National Review, 21 Dec. 2024
  • This is a soft frosting, perfect for spreading over a sheet cake or topping crisp cookies.
    Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near broken

Cite this Entry

“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

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