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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of broken in
Samuelsson’s stick had broken in front of his own net and Arvidsson pounced.
—
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Doctors told her that her spinal cord was damaged and that her back was broken in half.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Indoors, opt for light traps, sticky traps, and bug catchers that can capture those who have broken in.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
On Friday, March 20, daily temperature records were broken in Downtown Los Angeles, where a temperature of 96 degrees was recorded, breaking a record of 93 from 1997.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
In a season dominated by conversations about all that is broken in college basketball and college athletics, the tournament reared itself to remind everyone what is right.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
On Thursday, the weather service reported daily temperature records were broken in several locations including Napa (88), Richmond (86), San Francisco (86), Redwood City (91), San Jose (85) and the Salinas Airport (91).
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
By the time the plane crashed, in a forest at thirty-five hundred feet, its fuselage had broken in two and a trail of debris ten miles long stretched behind it.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Doctors told her that her spinal cord was damaged and that her back was broken in half.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Indoors, opt for light traps, sticky traps, and bug catchers that can capture those who have broken in.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
On Friday, March 20, daily temperature records were broken in Downtown Los Angeles, where a temperature of 96 degrees was recorded, breaking a record of 93 from 1997.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
In a season dominated by conversations about all that is broken in college basketball and college athletics, the tournament reared itself to remind everyone what is right.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
On Thursday, the weather service reported daily temperature records were broken in several locations including Napa (88), Richmond (86), San Francisco (86), Redwood City (91), San Jose (85) and the Salinas Airport (91).
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
By the time the plane crashed, in a forest at thirty-five hundred feet, its fuselage had broken in two and a trail of debris ten miles long stretched behind it.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken in
Verb
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Though prices have climbed at a fast rate since the war started, there were similar market shocks in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
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Simultaneously, Israel invaded Lebanon in an operation that killed thousands, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, and displaced more than a million people, according to the United Nations.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At one point Blunt's character yells in exasperated, rapid-fire Italian at a protesting Versace when they're interrupted by Hathaway.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
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As Dearmon and Dayvault continue on, they’re interrupted by something special.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Velezquez was working at the Family Dollar store at the corner of Lawrence and Sawyer avenues on April 25, when two men robbed the store.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
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Prosecutors say Broadnax and his cousin, Demarius Cummings, fatally shot and robbed Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler in the parking lot of Butler’s recording studio in Garland.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Part of the reason may be that San Diego housing officials got an early and public start on dealing with their own growing budget shortfall and expected cuts in city, state and federal funding.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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When Alexander’s dad attempted to intervene, he too was cut in the left hand by his son, according to cops.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20in. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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