as in divided
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
as in ended
to come to an end
the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in separated
to set or force apart
he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in disrupted
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in giggled
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
if you break up during the skit, the audience will know that you're in on the joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The soil must be broken up or aerated so moisture can penetrate the surface.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
It’s broken up into elements water, fire, earth and void.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Sandra Lee and Ben Youcef have broken up The two were together for five years and got engaged after meeting during the COVID pandemic.
—Antonia Debianchi, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Real Man Adventures isn’t broken up into chapter-length sections of narrative, but rather brief, discursive essays.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Even though the episode is broken up by brief life updates from alumni, the Lacheys are definitely focused on getting answers from the season-ten cast.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
As Curiosity climbs, the terrain shows a clear shift toward increasingly dry conditions, broken up by occasional wetter intervals when rivers and lakes briefly resurfaced.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
The couple, who dated for 10 months before marrying in 2004, have broken up and reconciled as coparents in recent years.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
After McDavid appeared to get away with a penalty against Killorn, a shot-pass intended for the Oilers captain was broken up by Granlund.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The soil must be broken up or aerated so moisture can penetrate the surface.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
It’s broken up into elements water, fire, earth and void.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Sandra Lee and Ben Youcef have broken up The two were together for five years and got engaged after meeting during the COVID pandemic.
—Antonia Debianchi, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Real Man Adventures isn’t broken up into chapter-length sections of narrative, but rather brief, discursive essays.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Even though the episode is broken up by brief life updates from alumni, the Lacheys are definitely focused on getting answers from the season-ten cast.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
As Curiosity climbs, the terrain shows a clear shift toward increasingly dry conditions, broken up by occasional wetter intervals when rivers and lakes briefly resurfaced.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
The couple, who dated for 10 months before marrying in 2004, have broken up and reconciled as coparents in recent years.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken up
Adjective
-
The House and Senate remain divided on raises for school staff.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Polling suggests many voters believe the country is deeply divided and that polarization is expanding across the 50 states.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After the Ronettes disbanded, Ross continued to release music solo.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The group, however, eventually disbanded because many of its members enlisted in the Union Army.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His step-back jumper with 32 seconds left was the exclamation point, a shot that ended Orlando’s final push and extended Detroit’s season.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The program was created by Congress to help quickly protect nationals of countries that, as a result of natural or man-made disasters, were dangerous for people to return to, with routine reevaluations to decide if the protections would be extended or ended.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fine jewelry has been separated from the trashy costume stuff.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The first six cars of the train were separated from the rest and continued on to Penn.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Four men have been arrested and charged in the 1982 rape and murder of 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp — a case that went cold for more than four decades before DNA testing and a true-crime podcast cracked it open.—
Jeremy Mikula,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The physicality ramped up early in the second period when the B’s fourth line flexed their muscle and cracked Lyon.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a preliminary injunction, Judge Robert Pitman stopped short of ordering a temporary air conditioning remedy.—
Leigh Waldman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Swayman stopped the puck but had to freeze it for a defensive-zone faceoff.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Holmgren merely giggled as Brooks chucked the ball past him.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
When the officer began to dance, the women screamed and giggled.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20up. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
