divorce 1 of 2

noun

Definition of divorcenext
as in breakup

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

divorce

2 of 2

verb

as in to split
to set or force apart in your head you need to divorce your wishes and fantasies from the realities of the world as it is

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word divorce distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of divorce are divide, part, separate, sever, and sunder. While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

When is divide a more appropriate choice than divorce?

The words divide and divorce can be used in similar contexts, but divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

When is it sensible to use part instead of divorce?

While the synonyms part and divorce are close in meaning, part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

When could separate be used to replace divorce?

In some situations, the words separate and divorce are roughly equivalent. However, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

When can sever be used instead of divorce?

The synonyms sever and divorce are sometimes interchangeable, but sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

In what contexts can sunder take the place of divorce?

While in some cases nearly identical to divorce, sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

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 divorce
Noun
By the mid-17th century, in what would later become the Massachusetts Bay Colony, courts were empowered to hear and determine all causes of divorce. — Patricia Fersch, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Rinsch was accused of spending around $10 million on five Rolls-Royces, a Ferrari, watches, clothing, luxury bedding and linens, credit card bills, attorneys to sue Netflix for more money, and lawyers to work on his divorce. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Verb
White and Timlin divorced in 2023 and share custody of their daughters. — Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 25 June 2026 In a clip posted in February 2023, the boys got back to their roots and inquired about the full story of how their parents (now divorced) met. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for divorce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divorce
  1. breakup
  2. split
  3. dissolution
  4. separate
  5. alienation
  6. divide
  7. severance
  8. disconnect
Noun
  • The 45-second clip features Oasis’ rowdy crowds and hints at rehearsal footage as Noel and Liam Gallagher talk about their reunion years after Oasis’ acrimonious breakup.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2026
  • The track is about cautiously opening yourself up to a new relationship after a painful breakup, finding comfort in someone who appreciates the very qualities a former partner criticized.
    — Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of breakup
Verb
  • The result is uncommon room layouts like the tri-suite king room equipped with two twin-sized beds and a king bed split by a privacy divider that doubles as a playful art installation.
    — Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Cutright, who was not charged with murder, split from Devastating Pyrotechnics to form Blackstar Fireworks on the property in 2023.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of split
Noun
  • The agency continues to struggle with chronic staffing shortages, declining employee morale, and the recent dissolution of its union relationship.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Following the abrupt dissolution of Disney’s $1 billion investment in OpenAI’s Sora text-to-video app, Shin stressed that there are no plans to use A24’s existing IP to create GenAI tools.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 June 2026
Definition of dissolution
Verb
  • This is not Copenhagen, which has wide boulevards where vehicles and bikes can be easily separated.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The film tells the story of the tender yet destructive friendship between two 13-year-old boys who run away when they are threatened with being separated.
    — Alissa Simon, Variety, 4 July 2026
Definition of separate
Noun
  • This book about a couple in complex crisis creates a sense of political alienation that The Drama frankly dances around.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 July 2026
  • Much like their 1990s grunge and alt-rock contemporaries in America, Canada’s Our Lady Peace were writing and recording murky, sorrowful songs about youthful frustration and adult rage, love lost and societal alienation.
    — Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2026
Definition of alienation
Verb
  • The revelation has divided Jefferson descendants for decades.
    — Briana Stewart, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • The sale sees the property divided into three lots with two buildable, giving the opportunity to create a treasurable family compound in rural seclusion just a 30-minute drive from the island’s main towns.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of divide
Noun
  • His termination stemmed from an internal dispute with CBS leadership, USA TODAY learned on June 2, which left him without severance or other benefits effective immediately.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • After the Paramount deal closes, Zaslav is estimated to receive severance worth up to $887 million (which includes some equity awards in his 2025 compensation package).
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of severance
Verb
  • If your pet already has a microchip, make sure the information is up to date; sometimes, even pets with microchips can’t be identified because the phone number associated with them has been disconnected.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Without considering objects, understanding history is incomplete, leaving people today disconnected from those who lived it.
    — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Definition of disconnect

Browse Nearby Words

divisions
divorce
divorced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Divorce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divorce. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on divorce

Nglish: Translation of divorce for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about divorce

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