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
According to the researchers, the dinosaur suffered a broken rib during its lifetime. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 Issues documented included chemical burns and hydraulic fluid that leaked from a ride into someone’s eye, dislocated joints, concussions and broken bones. — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
Martinez's comments have put United's leadership in the spotlight again and have broken the sense of calm at Old Trafford that Carrick had overseen since succeeding Amorim. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 With no memory of the intervening time — why is Lister's leg broken? — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 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
  • The damage left shattered glass and a large hole in the building.
    — Drew Aunkst, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026
  • But detailed summaries of the punishments obtained by The New York Times provide the first look at how Cornell administrators apportioned blame for the alcohol and drug-fueled gathering that the woman has said left her shattered and degraded.
    — Sharon Otterman, New York Times, 4 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
  • Rising case rates in women under 50, new federal rules on breast density notification and the uneven rollout of 3D mammography are reshaping when and how women get screened.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Grass, uneven ground, tiny puddles, and random objects can become major obstacles when the machine is barely taller than them.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven
Verb
  • When those signals are blocked, disrupted or deliberately jammed, vehicles may need other methods to maintain reliable navigation.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • While the restorations are only to the marble surface of the building, the meticulous nature of the job would have disrupted all aspects of the Plaza experience for would-be guests.
    — Timothy Latterner, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of disrupted
Verb
  • Berkly Catton and Kaapo Kakko had two assists apiece and Joey Daccord stopped 29 of 37 shots.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Before departing, the pope stopped to speak to a Ukrainian family.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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