1
as in to disband
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to come to an end
the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed
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3
as in to divide
to set or force apart
he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground
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4
as in to crack
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
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5
as in to cease
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad
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7
as in to laugh
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
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as in split
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces
the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism pretty much signaled the end of the Cold War
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of break up
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2026
Following a period of heavy rain and melting snow, the River Raisin swelled, breaking up its icy surface.
—Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Jessica Barrett and Chris Fusco After Bri initiated their breakup, Chris went forward with his connection with Jessica, an infectious diseases physician who opened up about her hospital job being a major factor in her divorce.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
The outside lane always seems to kind of get broken up and things just happen on that outside lane.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2026
Following a period of heavy rain and melting snow, the River Raisin swelled, breaking up its icy surface.
—Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
And that was the one that ended up being a really civilized breakup.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Jessica Barrett and Chris Fusco After Bri initiated their breakup, Chris went forward with his connection with Jessica, an infectious diseases physician who opened up about her hospital job being a major factor in her divorce.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
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The Black Panthers officially disbanded in 1982, but their ideals carry on locally.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The legislation provides up to $5 million in nonlethal assistance for the struggling Haitian armed forces — the first congressional funding for the military since it was disbanded in the 1990s — and includes support for United Nations operations.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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From open models to real-world applications, China has shown that constraints have not stopped it from gaining ground.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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From there, James made second-team All-NBA the next season and didn’t stop landing on one of the three teams until this season.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said the two men were hit near the ceasefire line that divides Gaza, with one half under Israeli military control.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
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Developer Scott Gibbel had initially presented plans for three buildings on the site, but, following mixed reviews from commissioners at a meeting in December, the proposal was revised, with a 218,700 square-foot structure divided into two separate buildings.—
Jennifer Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Even for those films that did crack the best British film list, though, the recognition can feel tokenistic.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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But soon her story begins to crack.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Paramount Skydance has also sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, making similar accusations, Variety reported over the weekend.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
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Oil imports from Venezuela have ceased since Washington toppled its leader last month, cutting Cuba’s main source of energy.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Economic and religious activities disrupted by DHS Muslims in Minneapolis, estimated now to be more than 100,000, have lived in the city for well over a century, and the city has embraced them.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Her beau-to-be follows her into the fields and sneaks up on her, stumbling over a rock at the last possible moment, disrupting what might have been her first actual orgasm.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dylan stuck out his tongue in gleeful celebration of only his second basket in the semifinal, and their famous father laughed heartily at courtside.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
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James shook his head and laughed recalling those moments.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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At last year's conference, Vice President JD Vance delivered a combative address that rattled European capitals and fueled fears of an accelerating trans-Atlantic split.—
Olivia Gazis,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
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In fact, more than 80% of people will have their hearts broken from a romantic split, research suggests.—
Kyra Dahring,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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