Synonyms of broken
-
as in shattered
-
as in jagged
-
as in uneven
-
as in disrupted
-
as in stopped
-
as in demoted
-
as in deciphered
-
as in paused
-
as in plowed
-
as in violated
-
as in solved
-
as in damaged
-
as in stalled
-
as in bolted
-
as in worn
-
as in unfolded
-
as in ruined
-
as in originated
-
as in veered
-
as in reduced
-
as in exceeded
-
as in emerged
-
Example Sentences
-
Entries Near
1
as in shattered
forcibly separated into many pieces
a broken vase that could not be repaired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline
the broken rim of the antique vase greatly reduces its value
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
that portion of the hiking trail consists of a long, broken mountain ridge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in disrupted
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demoted
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deciphered
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in paused
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in plowed
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in violated
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in solved
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in stalled
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in bolted
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in worn
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in unfolded
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
as in ruined
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
15
as in originated
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
16
as in veered
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
18
as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 broken
Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Together, the couple operates a studio focused on kintsugi, a centuries-old Japanese technique that restores broken ceramics using natural lacquer and metallic powders.
—Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
That could have broken the game open for the Sabres by giving them a 4-2 lead, but the rookie Habs netminder said no.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
Adjective
The report said some female bodies brought to morgues showed broken pelvises or legs, bloodied underwear and additional trauma to the abdomen or groin.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Together, the couple operates a studio focused on kintsugi, a centuries-old Japanese technique that restores broken ceramics using natural lacquer and metallic powders.
—Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Verb
It is cracked down the middle; it’s broken.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
That could have broken the game open for the Sabres by giving them a 4-2 lead, but the rookie Habs netminder said no.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
Adjective
-
Of his injuries, his three shattered vertebrae required the longest recovery time.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Later, a long close-up of a shattered glass of milk works neither as visual rhyme with the snowy setting nor dramatic insight.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
But the storms that lash the unpeopled coasts and jagged mountains of our Fiftieth State are no respecters of men, even the best of us.—
Ben East,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
-
From the beginning, the Palisades, with its Mediterranean climate and jagged coastline, lured the most adventurous of settlers, each generation reshaping it in its own image.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
These Italian suede sneakers feature a durable gum sole that’s perfect for a long day of walking without tripping over cobblestones or uneven pavement.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
Elsewhere, shopping was uneven.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The shopping area’s management said the takeovers disrupted operations and negatively impacted businesses.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2026
-
Iranian drone attacks on data centers disrupted Amazon Web Services in the region and stuck Amazon with months of repairs while forcing another data center developer to pause Middle East projects.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Can the textpocalypse be stopped?—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Otherwise, the Canadiens were stopped on their first shot and scored on their next three in Game 6; the Sabres were stopped on their first shot and scored on three straight against Jakub Dobeš in Game 5.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The UConn Club Running team, which is being demoted, had 120 members last fall.—
Katie Servas,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
Will Smith has been a disappointment as teammate Dalton Rushing has outearned him, despite 50+ fewer at bats, while Agustín Ramírez has fallen out of the ranks after being demoted to the minors.—
Dalton Del Don,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
By slow degrees, Philip’s story shifts to accommodate the incontrovertible evidence of IP addresses and deciphered cryptography and Lucy struggles to keep up, let alone understand.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
-
The researchers then deciphered certain traits that were linked to the habit.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Adani Green Energy withdrew its wind energy projects from Sri Lanka after the country sought to renegotiate prices, while a French oil giant also paused new investments.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
-
On May 4, a judge paused Chandee's deportation for two weeks, allowing the government time to respond to the appeal.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
