Synonyms of breaking
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as in disrupting
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as in stopping
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as in reducing
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as in deciphering
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as in pausing
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as in plowing
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as in violating
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as in solving
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as in damaging
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as in dying
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as in retreating
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as in wearing
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as in spreading
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as in bankrupting
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as in originating
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as in veering
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as in lowering
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as in exceeding
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as in surfacing
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Example Sentences
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Phrases Containing
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Entries Near
1
as in disrupting
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
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Relevance
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2
as in stopping
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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3
as in reducing
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander
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4
as in deciphering
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
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5
as in pausing
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
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6
as in plowing
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
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7
as in violating
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
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8
as in solving
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
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9
as in damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in dying
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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11
as in retreating
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
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12
as in wearing
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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13
as in spreading
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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14
as in bankrupting
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
another bad investment could break him
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15
as in originating
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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16
as in veering
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
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17
as in lowering
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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18
as in exceeding
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
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19
as in surfacing
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below
dolphins were breaking all around the boat
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of breaking
The planet’s oceans are at unprecedented temperatures for this time of year, breaking the all-time June record, according to new data, with alarming implications for global weather and marine life.
—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
1 July 2026
Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
—
Angie Dimichele,
Sun Sentinel,
30 June 2026
This is a breaking news story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
After the set got to 3-3, with each player holding each of her first three serves, Joint won the next three games, breaking Serena once to take the first set.
—
Dan Zaksheske,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Jacie Sellars is the morning breaking news reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
—
Arkansas Online,
30 June 2026
Download the Star app on iOS or Android to get breaking news alerts.
—
Sofi Zeman
june 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2026
To sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox, click here.
—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
30 June 2026
Dennis Romero Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
1 July 2026
Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
—
Angie Dimichele,
Sun Sentinel,
30 June 2026
This is a breaking news story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
After the set got to 3-3, with each player holding each of her first three serves, Joint won the next three games, breaking Serena once to take the first set.
—
Dan Zaksheske,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Jacie Sellars is the morning breaking news reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
—
Arkansas Online,
30 June 2026
Download the Star app on iOS or Android to get breaking news alerts.
—
Sofi Zeman
june 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2026
To sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox, click here.
—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
30 June 2026
Dennis Romero Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking
Verb
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Researchers have identified hormone-disrupting and asthma-associated chemicals in some consumer products and continue to investigate combinations of chemicals that may warrant closer testing.
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Its tendency to rapidly reproduce, forming dense colonies on underwater surfaces, can clog pipes, pumps and critical water infrastructure while disrupting local ecosystems.
Verb
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Technology led to the suspect's arrest Officers obtained doorbell camera footage, which showed a silver SUV stopping along a curb on Majors Choice Drive.
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Its compact size and functional interior and exterior pockets will make zipping through airport security or stopping for gas on road trips a breeze — no more digging through disorganized totes to locate your wallet and phone.
Verb
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Manucurist formulates its masks with panthenol, a form of vitamin B5, to hydrate and strengthen dry nails over time, reducing breakage.
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Even tiny electromagnetic disturbances can disrupt the quantum states that perform calculations, reducing the accuracy and reliability of the system.
Verb
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In 2023, the Vesuvius Challenge made its first award for deciphering the first letters, and the following year, the project awarded the grand prize of $700,000 for producing the first readable text.
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Already, papyrologists are deciphering new texts that indicate other possible authors in the Herculaneum collection, including one of the leaders of the Stoic philosophy school.
Verb
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After pausing for the intermission between the 15-minute extra time halves, Argentina found their footing again and once again took the lead.
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In a joint opinion piece published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in late May, the two officials endorsed pausing the development of new data centers in Little Rock.
Verb
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Tilling or plowing in the summer disturbs the soil's delicate ecosystem and exposes moist soil to rapid water loss.
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By plowing a chunk of their earnings into repurchases, the companies reduce the number of shares outstanding, which has the effect of boosting earnings per share and ultimately the stock price.
Verb
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Earlier this year, the European Commission found that the social media giant was violating EU law by failing to prevent children below 13 from accessing its platforms.
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The complaint also accuses G-MAC of violating Title IX, a federal law that commands gender equity in college sports.
Verb
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So solving the trade talent gap means producing more journeymen.
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Nature, however, has been solving this problem for millions of years.
Cite this Entry
“Breaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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