Synonyms of broken
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as in shattered
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as in jagged
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as in uneven
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as in disrupted
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as in stopped
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as in demoted
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as in deciphered
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as in paused
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as in plowed
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as in violated
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as in solved
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as in damaged
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as in stalled
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as in bolted
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as in worn
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as in unfolded
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as in ruined
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as in originated
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as in veered
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as in reduced
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as in exceeded
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as in emerged
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Example Sentences
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Entries Near
1
as in shattered
forcibly separated into many pieces
a broken vase that could not be repaired
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2
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline
the broken rim of the antique vase greatly reduces its value
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3
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
that portion of the hiking trail consists of a long, broken mountain ridge
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1
as in disrupted
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 stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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3
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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4
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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5
as in paused
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 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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7
as in violated
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 solved
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 damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in stalled
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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11
as in bolted
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 worn
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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13
as in unfolded
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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14
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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15
as in originated
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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16
as in veered
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 reduced
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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18
as in exceeded
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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of broken
Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026
Heide started 31 of 32 games for the Aztecs last season before sitting out the Mountain West tournament final against Utah State with a broken finger in his left (shooting) hand.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
And the whole business proves, happily, to have a lot of heart — broken sometimes, but that’s life, even in Toontown.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
Adjective
Vanney said that there aren’t any broken bones in the foot, but the surgery will be to repair ligaments.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026
Heide started 31 of 32 games for the Aztecs last season before sitting out the Mountain West tournament final against Utah State with a broken finger in his left (shooting) hand.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
At the time, many observers, including former board members, wondered whether the company should be broken apart, with its manufacturing facilities sold or spun into a separate business.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
And the whole business proves, happily, to have a lot of heart — broken sometimes, but that’s life, even in Toontown.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
Adjective
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Aerial footage showed the sedan parked next to the center divider, with at least one shattered window.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Mullett says her injuries included a broken back, a broken left leg, a shattered pelvis and head trauma.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The plane hitting the water is destructive enough without the help of a jagged coral reef (improbably far from any coastline) slicing through the aircraft’s undercarriage.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
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Known for their jagged peaks, glacial lakes, and vast icefields, the Canadian Rockies are among the world’s most stunning mountain ranges, forming a natural divide between Alberta and British Columbia.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And the uneven availability cost him a chance to fully adjust to his new role within the organization.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
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Heavy rain can wash away grass seed and cause uneven growth or bare spots in your lawn.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The United Nations Development Programme reports that higher energy prices, disrupted food systems, and economic slowdowns triggered by the war could push up to thirty-two million people globally into poverty.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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Disasters threaten treatment The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration works with states to ensure that access to opioid use disorder medication isn't disrupted, Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard said.—
Andrew Jones,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a preliminary injunction, Judge Robert Pitman stopped short of ordering a temporary air conditioning remedy.—
Leigh Waldman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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Swayman stopped the puck but had to freeze it for a defensive-zone faceoff.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This was controversial to the public, though, with many feeling that Pluto had been demoted in a dishonorable sense, unjustly kicked out of the club of astronomical objects that people actually care about.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
29 Apr. 2026
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Pavel Dorofeyev, Vegas’ leading scorer in the regular season, has yet to record a point in the series and was demoted down the lineup by Tortorella on Friday.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The researchers then deciphered certain traits that were linked to the habit.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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Kinsella was excited for Yates’ voice to be an easter egg—one of many voices to be deciphered by fans among a scream-singing chorus.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The recently paused hepatitis B trial has similarly been likened to this stain on American history.—
Uzma Rentia,
STAT,
27 Apr. 2026
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From there, the group paused the round and pulled up a livestream to watch the pick come through officially.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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