DIVORCE Synonyms: 175 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

divorce 1 of 2

noun

Definition of divorce

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

View this post on Instagram Because of the news of her divorce, the post trickled through the celebrity gossip outlets, and that coverage in turn propagated the post through Google search. — Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026 This season of Salt Lake City will officially go down in history as the divorce season. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Verb

Luna implores Yue, recently divorced, not to get stuck in a holding pattern, either in her career or her relationships — but Luna, too, needs to make some changes. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026 Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have been divorced for nearly a decade. — Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for divorce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for divorce

Noun

Karlaftis and Nohl Williams knocked down passes, and Williams added another breakup before game’s end.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
The fake message, shared alongside images of Fox and an older photograph of the former couple, claimed Kelly was devastated by the breakup and blamed himself for losing her.

— Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of breakup

Verb

The interface splits each 2-core fiber into two single-core fibers inside the repeater for efficient amplification, then merges them back into 2-core fibers.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
Wanda, a donkey, and Max, a horse, split their time between a farm upstate and a stable in the Bronx.

— Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of split

Noun

Hughes stayed with the band for three albums and, after Deep Purple’s dissolution, briefly rejoined Trapeze and released a solo album, Play Me Out, in 1977.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
Amuom said the dissolution had contributed to the insecurity by leaving key local government posts vacant.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of dissolution

Verb

We are connected across continents in milliseconds, but too often separated by fear, anger, and mistrust.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Initially, Jessie’s overriding goal was simply to win back playtime with Bonnie, especially after becoming separated from her during a dance class.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of separate

Noun

At the rally, Carney also acknowledged the grievances that have fueled alienation in Alberta.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Unlike Gregor Samsa who is confined to his room after transforming into a huge insect, the protagonist still has to go to work, a dark and bleak absurdity that lays bare the alienation, isolation, and hypocrisy of modern life.

— Deadline, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of alienation

Verb

In the case of Yemen, the ground fighters inside the country who are taking on the Houthis are deeply divided and fought each other as recently as January.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Forty years ago, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met at Höfði House, representing rival nuclear superpowers divided by decades of distrust.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of divide

Noun

That totals over $600 million, not including any cash severance, a tax benefit or other perquisites.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Top college football coaches command NFL-caliber salaries; fired head coaches alone have collected over $1 billion in severance since 2015.

— Chris Park, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of severance

Verb

The Clean Energy Choice Act, introduced by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), requires utilities to offer homeowners a financial incentive to disconnect from gas and electrify the home when gas service line repairs are scheduled.

— Molly McCrea, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
The team also demonstrated that the sheet could reconstruct its overall shape even after some fibers were cut or disconnected.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of disconnect

Browse Nearby Words

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divorced

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Style

“Divorce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divorce. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of divorce

noun

verb

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Synonyms of divorce

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

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Articles Related to divorce

(Fewer Than) 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on divorce

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

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Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

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

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