broach

verb

Definition of broachnext
1
as in to surface
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below the immense whales broaching was a magnificent sight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to introduce
to present or bring forward for discussion broached the topic of plans for next year's parade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word broach distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of broach are air, express, utter, vent, and voice. While all these words mean "to make known what one thinks or feels," broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion.

broached the subject of a divorce

When might air be a better fit than broach?

Although the words air and broach have much in common, air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention.

publicly airing their differences

When could express be used to replace broach?

The words express and broach can be used in similar contexts, but express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces.

expressed her feelings in music

When can utter be used instead of broach?

In some situations, the words utter and broach are roughly equivalent. However, utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech.

utter a groan

When would vent be a good substitute for broach?

The synonyms vent and broach are sometimes interchangeable, but vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words.

a tirade venting his frustration

When is it sensible to use voice instead of broach?

While in some cases nearly identical to broach, voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words.

an editorial voicing their concerns

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 broach If containment lines are incomplete or broached, expect potential for headfire runs into adjacent tributary drainages to the south with brush and sparse, discontinuous vegetation and or they can be accessed and suppression by firefighting resources. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2025 No legislators have broached the topic in the past five years. —Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 If containment lines are broached, expect continued backing, flanking and headfire runs into adjacent tributary drainages and up to the PCT. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2025 Scherzinger wasn’t best pleased when Lloyd initially broached the idea of Norma Desmond to her. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for broach
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broach
  1. surface
  2. introduce
  3. raise
  4. discuss
  5. place
Verb
  • Videos surfaced over the weekend showing two men who were kidnapped at the NOVA music festival.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Aug. 2025
  • What people say about you on review sites, forums or in podcasts is increasingly indexed by AI and surfaced as context.
    — Don Dodds, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of surface
Verb
  • Matthew Lillard appeared via video to introduce Skeet Ulrich at San Diego Comic-Con 2025.
    — Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 25 July 2025
  • Understand First, Criticize Second When Volkov introduced himself to Dennett and immediately criticized his work, there were no hard feelings between them.
    — Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of introduce
Verb
  • Funds for the Parkland Library reopening came from a mix of allocations in the city budget, federal American Rescue Plan funds and donations raised through the Library Foundation.
    — Keely Doll, The Courier-Journal, 29 July 2025
  • The case raised major questions about the line between freedom of expression and privacy, and what is actually newsworthy.
    — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 28 July 2025
Definition of raise
Verb
  • While the job interview can reveal a lot about a company, how an organization acts in discussing compensation gives insight into broader implications about the company.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
  • That neighbor hosted a meeting (upstairs, in a building without an elevator) where about 50 community members and a city councilor discussed how to stop the project.
    — Jessica Slice, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
Definition of discuss
Verb
  • Shaun Bradley Balaam, Burton's partner, then placed the bag containing the baby into a chest freezer — with the mother later saying that the child was stillborn.
    — Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Signs have been placed in Grant Park and Lake Park, with plans to add more in other locations this fall.
    — Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Definition of place

Browse Nearby Words

brittleness
broach
broached
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Broach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broach. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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