1
as in invaded
to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent
the burglars broke in by smashing a window
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in interrupted
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion
he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of broken in
As Daniel lies unconscious and broken in a hospital bed, the doctors warn Laura and her husband, Howard (Waleed Zuaiter), that their son probably won’t make it.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Having started reasonably well, her serve then started letting her down and she was broken in three straight service games to fall behind in the match.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Having started reasonably well, her serve then started letting her down and she was broken in three straight service games to fall behind in the match.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken in
Verb
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If lots of leaves on the plant are yellowing all at once, your monstera may have been invaded by pests.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Sep. 2025
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Israel’s military invaded Gaza after Hamas’s attacks in October 2023, and more than 60,000 people have died in the region, according to the local health ministry.—
Leon Imber,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Shortly after midnight, the burners remember, their serenity was interrupted by a group of law enforcement officers who entered the camp to ask questions.—
Denver Nicks,
Rolling Stone,
14 Sep. 2025
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However, their usual matchday walk was interrupted by fans, forcing England to return to their Zurich base at the Dolder Grand hotel.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Two more banks in the Central District were allegedly robbed similarly that same day.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
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Two other banks also in downtown San Francisco were robbed the same day in the same fashion, police said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Bengals also worked out former Cleveland Browns signal-caller Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason but was among the team's cuts in August.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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In 2024, the Federal Reserve cut short-term interest rates three times — a half-point cut last September, a quarter point cut in November, and a quarter-point cut in December.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broken in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20in. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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