broken up 1 of 2

broken up

2 of 2

verb

past participle of break up
1
as in disbanded
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization the band broke up when their arguments over money grew too stressful

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
as in cracked
to yield to mental or emotional stress the sort of person who would be among the first to break up in a prisoner of war camp

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
7

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 up
Verb
All fell incomplete, including a pass near the goal line that was broken up by San Francisco rookie Ephesians Prysock. ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 During the same period, Justin Fields had a pass intended for wide receiver Jason Brownlee broken up by cornerback D’Arco Perkins-McAllister. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026 That was broken up by Owens, who stomped Gunther and then caught him with a big clothesline. Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 His deepest attempt, for tight end Terrance Ferguson, was broken up by cornerback Cam Lampkin. Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026 Two strong innings by McLean were broken up by a leadoff homer by Kyle Tucker, the outfielder who nearly signed with the Mets until a last-minute decision to sign a free agent contract with the two-time defending World Series champs. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026 Nicola Otamendi also exchanged words with several Spain players, including their captain Rodrí before that skirmish was broken up. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026 Of those, Shamrock V, Endeavour, and Velsheda, all British boats, were the only survivors, while the six American examples were broken up for scrap. Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 18 July 2026 Rather, how that time is accumulated, and whether it's broken up with physical activity, also have a notable impact. Adam England, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken up
Adjective
  • More than three decades after the wars, former Balkan foes remain divided over his role.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • City and county leaders remain divided over negotiations, including how cases should be handled through Mableton's municipal court.
    CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But August eventually passed, and by September our collective had disbanded for college.
    Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • After the 2020 security law, leading activists were arrested and civil society groups disbanded.
    KANIS LEUNG, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The city experienced a recent peak of 719 homicides in 2022, a year before Johnson took office, and ended last year with 416, according to Chicago police statistics.
    Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This is one family’s experience of their last year in Connecticut after major hospitals abruptly ended gender-affirming medical care for trans youth.
    Dr. SJ Job, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Festivalgoers were never forced to choose between artists, as sets were separated by 10-minute breaks, preventing overlap.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Both can be separated and opened as needed via long white drapes.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • That had to be daunting for a Pakistan side that hasn't cracked 200 in three previous innings in the series.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Videos show crowds trying to flee a surging wall of mud, rows of buses and trucks swept aside like toys, and bridges cracked apart and swept away.
    Josh Feldman, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Group argued construction could be irreversible The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is challenging the ballroom, had told the justices that the project would likely become irreversible unless it is stopped now.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Bilt, for its part, said the issue had to do with an earlier iteration of its credit cards that had stopped accepting customers.
    Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Efforts to bring the outbreak under control — from limited public gatherings to social distancing and airport closures — have disrupted life in the six affected provinces, particularly Ituri, which has been ravaged by rebel violence.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The choices of what to put in each episode — and when to cut from one timeline to another — have sometimes felt arbitrary, and have often disrupted the story’s overall flow.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The dynamic duo giggled and hugged as curious onlookers took out their iPhones and started snapping away.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The quarterback, 30, could be seen smiling as Bronze giggled and Golden looked directly at the camera.
    Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Broken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20up. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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