BRAKES Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

brakes 1 of 2

noun

plural of brake

as in bushes

a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush built a small shelter in the brake to watch for deer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

brakes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of brake

as in slows

to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace braked the car sharply when someone pulled out in front of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 brakes

Noun

New rules for e-bikes could be coming to Fort Lauderdale, but at least one commissioner wants to pump the brakes on the plan — and so far, she’s outnumbered. — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026 Estrogen puts the brakes on the demo crew by capping how much gets torn down and keeps the building crew ramped up to finish the rebuild. — Cheryl Fenton, Flow Space, 27 Oct. 2026 Also on Thursday, the 10-year Treasury yield slammed on the brakes and went into reverse, falling below 5% and tumbling in the largest single-day decline since March 10, 2023 — the day that Silicon Valley Bank imploded. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026 Equally responsible for this Bentley’s milestone handling are the Supersports’ electronic limited-slip differential, rear-wheel steering, suspension aided by a 48-volt active anti-roll bar, and enormous carbon-silicon-carbide brakes. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026 Rival urban commuters often cross the $1,500 threshold when fitted with hydraulic brakes and advanced torque sensors so Lectric’s US$1,099 price tag is head-turning. — New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026 According to the call log, a witness told police a vehicle was traveling at a high speed, suddenly hit the brakes and went off the roadway, down an embankment. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026 Hitting the brakes and handing control to the federal government just insures that China and other adversaries will leave us in the dust. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026 That support connection could become especially important in a vehicle where nobody can grab the steering wheel or hit the brakes. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brakes

Noun

Just a half-hour north of San Diego, the property is comprised of over 600 acres of hills, meadows, Japanese gardens, and citrus groves, including 30 miles of private hiking trails and five acres of bio-intensive gardens.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
But that yield is reliant on farmers being able to access and harvest their groves.

— Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of groves

Browse Nearby Words

braked

brakes

braking

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Brakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brakes. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of brakes

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shindig

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes