1
as in disbands
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization
the band broke up when their arguments over money grew too stressful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stops
to come to an end
the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in divides
to set or force apart
he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cracks
to yield to mental or emotional stress
the sort of person who would be among the first to break up in a prisoner of war camp
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5
as in ceases
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in disrupts
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad
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7
as in laughs
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
if you break up during the skit, the audience will know that you're in on the joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breaks up
So, for instance, in a situation where somebody is no longer with us or somebody leaves a band or a band breaks up.
—
Jim Ryan,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
The new map breaks up the state’s current 9th Congressional District, which is primarily made up of Memphis, and the state’s only majority-Black district.
—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 May 2026
Sometimes your boyfriend breaks up with you to be with an older divorced mom and that's a good thing.
—
Sean Joseph Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
The Gap Factory Relaxed Linen-blend Wide-leg Pants, now 50 percent off, come in a vibrant hot pink that instantly breaks up a neutral-heavy suitcase and adds a playful pop for spring and summer itineraries.
—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
Belly, devastated by the betrayal, slaps Jeremiah and breaks up with him.
—
Alexandra Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
Needless to say, Bobby breaks up with her later.
—
Jake Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Aug. 2025
Jim Ryan,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
The new map breaks up the state’s current 9th Congressional District, which is primarily made up of Memphis, and the state’s only majority-Black district.
—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 May 2026
Sometimes your boyfriend breaks up with you to be with an older divorced mom and that's a good thing.
—
Sean Joseph Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
The Gap Factory Relaxed Linen-blend Wide-leg Pants, now 50 percent off, come in a vibrant hot pink that instantly breaks up a neutral-heavy suitcase and adds a playful pop for spring and summer itineraries.
—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
Belly, devastated by the betrayal, slaps Jeremiah and breaks up with him.
—
Alexandra Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
Needless to say, Bobby breaks up with her later.
—
Jake Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks up
Verb
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And once the dog is found, the Search Party network disbands.
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DiCaprio plays Bob, a revolutionary in hiding with his teen daughter (Chase Infiniti) after his activist group the French 75 disbands in chaos.
Verb
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Santorini stops being only a view and starts behaving like a place again.
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Workforce needs, customer expectations, and business conditions evolve, and leaders have to be willing to adjust if the model stops delivering results.
Verb
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What divides them is the type of finance work being transformed.
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Defections across the land border that divides the peninsula are relatively rare, as the area is densely forested, ridden with landmines and monitored by soldiers on both sides.
Verb
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There was one where the both managers got ejected in the same moment, which cracks me up.
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This cracks long plastic chains into smaller hydrocarbon chunks.
Verb
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This essentially means that, for under-16s, Snapchat ceases to function as a social media app and becomes something closer to a sophisticated messaging platform just for friends and family.
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In the company of Charlie and Catherine, Leonora ceases to feel like herself.
Verb
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Each surgery disrupts blood supply to the skin and lays down a new layer of scar tissue, meaning the risks compound with every procedure.
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Xenotransplantation disrupts this trajectory.
Verb
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Clive Davis was the most humble man in the music business [laughs].
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Kylie laughs and throws another cupful.
Verb
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Powdered creatine dissolves in water and is quickly absorbed in the gut, while gummies need to be broken down first.
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Powder dissolves in water and is quickly absorbed in the gut, while gummies need to be broken down first, per Ubie Health.
Cite this Entry
“Breaks up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20up. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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