1
as in disbands
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stops
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 divides
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 cracks
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 ceases
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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6
as in disrupts
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 laughs
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breaks up
While Sam begins hallucinating people as puppets, Justin breaks up with him.
—
Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Belly, devastated by the betrayal, slaps Jeremiah and breaks up with him.
—Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Needless to say, Bobby breaks up with her later.
—Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Belly, devastated by the betrayal, slaps Jeremiah and breaks up with him.
—Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Needless to say, Bobby breaks up with her later.
—Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks up
Verb
-
Michigan doesn’t have a statewide protocol for notifying residents when fluoridation stops.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
18 Sep. 2025
-
If those guardrails aren’t in place, the story stops being theirs.—
Kristine Johnson,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The jet stream divides the country in two, bringing wetter weather to the Pacific Northwest and Ohio Valley.—
Alix Martichoux,
The Hill,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The 45-year-old Shears now divides his time between London and New Orleans, is a founding member of the pop and glam rock band Scissor Sisters.—
Adam Bell,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Apple will be there waiting, sitting on a mountain of cash, ready to partner with (or outright acquire) whichever operation cracks the code.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Every time Kreider cracks a joke, Yurov laughs hard.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Without any of the three, money once again ceases to circulate.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Some of the details may subtly shift between each retelling, but the story always remains the same and never ceases to grab attention.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Fall fatigue is often linked to the decrease in sunlight, which disrupts your body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) and can lower serotonin levels, a key mood-regulating hormone.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Creating a hostile environment that disrupts the event or puts others at risk.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Then, unbelievably, Solène laughs in Rainbeau’s face.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Sep. 2025
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Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers laughs with Luke Goedeke #67 prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium on August 23, 2024 in Tampa, FL.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When heated slightly, this combo safely dissolves silver from old circuit boards, wires or keyboard connectors.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Soluble fiber dissolves in water and helps support gut health, lowers cholesterol, and supports heart and immune health.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sources said Bessent is waiting to interview current Fed members until after the blackout period surrounding next week's Federal Open Market Committee meeting ends.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
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The Atlanta Braves have a difficult decision to make with manager Brian Snitker once the season ends.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaks up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20up. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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