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
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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of break up
Emy Lacroix, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025
If your attention span feels ridiculously short these days, books broken up into smaller chunks are ideal.
—Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 21 Feb. 2025
Lena Surzhko Harned, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2025
However, Jim argues the stock should work since the upcoming breakup should create three better-run companies.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
The pair broke up after welcoming their only child together — a son named Weston Coppola Cage, born on Dec. 26, 1990.
—Emy Lacroix, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025
If your attention span feels ridiculously short these days, books broken up into smaller chunks are ideal.
—Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
Russia has since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 employed its substantial resources to influence Ukraine’s politics through all available means, ranging from propaganda, economic pressures and incentives to energy blackmail, threats and use of violence.
—Lena Surzhko Harned, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2025
However, Jim argues the stock should work since the upcoming breakup should create three better-run companies.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
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President is expected to as soon as this week, according to reports, disbanding the agency's governing board and absorbing the 250-year-old mail provider into his administration.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
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The Houston Comets won the first four WNBA titles before the franchise disbanded in 2008.—
Doug Feinberg,
Hartford Courant,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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That hasn't stopped the Trump administration from making some bold claims.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
1 Mar. 2025
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The Windsor Police Department said in a social media post that one of its deputies stopped a vehicle with two passengers in the 700 block of Shiloh Road at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.—
Suhauna Hussain,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Primary care has long been associated with the image of a busy doctor, divided between patients and the administrative grind.—
Stephen Wunker,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
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For decades afterward and until the advent of internet telephony, Druze families divided by the armistice lines who wanted to communicate with one another did so via megaphone in an area that came to be known as Shouting Hill.—
Uriel Heilman,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The 26-year-old winger is on pace to crack 90 points, and the pop in his production can be explained by a few factors.—
Harman Dayal,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
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If not, there will be another opportunity to crack a new puzzle on Tuesday.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The turmoil that enveloped the federal workforce over the last few days is unlikely to cease anytime soon as the U.S. government’s human resources agency considers how to fulfill Elon Musk ’s demands.—
Chris Megerian,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
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The news many in the film sector feared over the weekend is coming to pass as Technicolor has made the majority of its UK workforce redundant and the majority of its activities have ceased.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), individuals may not block access to sidewalks or buildings, disrupt counterprotests, or engage in speech that is obscene, makes knowingly false statements of fact, or incites immediate violence or dangerous disturbances.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
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The right-wing House Freedom Caucus on Tuesday issued a threat to try to censure any Democratic lawmakers or guests who disrupt President Trump's speech to Congress.—
Andrew Solender,
Axios,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Surrounding the headliners are grumpy arena security, who spend the night wearing baffled expressions watching a sea of adults cheer and laugh and applaud over imaginary characters engaged in battles no one can actually see, and rolls of acrylic dice just 16 millimeters in size.—
Eric Francisco,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2025
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While Kassidy’s father needed a moment to take it all in, her mother had more of an immediate reaction – one that had the family laughing.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The announcement of the unexpected split comes after Michelin had already begun work on the tires for the 2027 season, the year when MotoGP enters a new era of regulations with a move to 850cc engines.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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After that, Josh's role in the show, if any, was unclear for months after the split, though Christina was seen returning to set without him.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to break up
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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