broken 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrō-kən How to pronounce broken (audio)
Definition of brokennext
1
as in shattered
forcibly separated into many pieces a broken vase that could not be repaired

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2
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline the broken rim of the antique vase greatly reduces its value

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3
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface that portion of the hiking trail consists of a long, broken mountain ridge

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broken

2 of 2

verb

past participle of break
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

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2
as in stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end the final vote broke the deadlock

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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

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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

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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

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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

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7
as in violated
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 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

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9
as in hurt
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of I broke a tooth on the hard candy

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10
as in stalled
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day

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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

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12
as in worn
to use up all the physical energy of the trek up the mountain just about broke me

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13
as in unfolded
to become known as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country

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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

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15
as in originated
to come into existence the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking

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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

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17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks

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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

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19
as in emerged
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 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
Adjective
At some point, those explanations begin to sound less like a blueprint and more like a broken record. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 West Aurora’s ranks are thinner with the loss of senior tight end Brendon Salach to a broken leg, suffered last week in the 41-0 win at East Aurora. — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
If the system relies on 300-plus schools to follow suggestions their competitors do not, it’s broken. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026 Protesters gathered outside of Long Beach City Hall on Tuesday, days after video captured the moments a local man's arm was broken during an encounter with immigration agents over the weekend, to demand more action from city leaders. — Laurie Perez, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for broken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
  1. shattered
  2. jagged
  3. uneven
  4. disrupted
  5. stopped
  6. demoted
  7. deciphered
  8. paused
Adjective
  • Arguinzones shared surveillance footage with CBS News Miami, along with cellphone video that shows her shattered door and the rock police say Reilly used to get inside.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Only shattered glass and the skeletal frame of the Haussmannian roof remain of Limoges’ 19th century town hall.
    — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of shattered
Adjective
  • The trace of bone plates’ fusion remains in jagged lines like black lightning.
    — Daniel Barnum, Longreads, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Furthermore, the whiskers are in front, preventing the drone from detecting sideways obstacles like random jagged branches in a forest.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of jagged
Adjective
  • The brand's signature technology combines a retinoid with lactic acid to smooth fine lines, uneven tone, and rough texture, and its AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads take things a step further.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
  • These accounts often waive monthly fees without a minimum balance and offer larger transaction or cash deposit allowances, since nonprofits may see uneven cash flow tied to grant cycles and fundraising.
    — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven
Verb
  • The president said SpaceX CEO Elon Musk lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s access to Starshield, but Ukrainian soldiers said the service was still disrupted Friday.
    — Victoria Craw, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Common signs include low energy, disrupted sleep, mood changes and loss of motivation.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of disrupted
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said Friday afternoon that all four Moscow airports -- Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky -- stopped flights arriving and departing for security reasons.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • If only the Hornets could have stopped the game after one possession apiece.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of stopped
Verb
  • Detroit demoted former general manager Steve Yzerman in July, giving him an advisory role to owner and CEO Chris Ilitch, and named Shawn Horcoff interim GM after failing to hire one during a search.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Wilson was eventually demoted, making Winston the primary backup.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of demoted
Verb
  • But a more apt comparison might be the Mirabilia Urbis Romae, in which Medieval scholars deciphered the staggering ruins of Classical Rome.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Re-creating the Herculaneum scrolls To date, one entire scroll and passages from others have been deciphered, largely thanks to the Vesuvius Challenge, a project launched in 2023 that encourages researchers to decode scrolls for cash prizes.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of deciphered
Verb
  • The protests then broadened as France’s CGT labor union and other activists joined in while students paused for a fall break.
    — Teresa Medrano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The pope paused for a moment and waved to the crowd before retreating into his apartment in the Apostolic Palace.
    — Colleen Barry, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of paused

Browse Nearby Words

broke in
broken
broken bread
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Cite this Entry

“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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