break - Thesaurus Synonyms and Word Suggestions

verb

To crack or split into two or more fragments by means of or as a result of force, a blow, or strain: fracture, rift, rive, shatter, shiver ², smash, splinter, sunder. See help
To become or cause to become apart one from another: detach, disjoin, disjoint, disunite, divide, divorce, part, separate, split (up). Idioms: part company, set at odds. See assemble
To make a hole or other opening in. Also used with through: breach, gap, hole, perforate, pierce, puncture. See open
To pass into or through by overcoming resistance. Also used with through: enter, penetrate, perforate, pierce, puncture. See enter
To find the key to (a code, for example): crack, decipher, decrypt, puzzle out. See knowledge
To make known: carry, communicate, convey, disclose, get across, impart, pass, report, tell, transmit. See knowledge
To be made public: come out, get out, out, transpire. Informal: leak (out). Idiom: come to light. See knowledge, show
To make or become unusable or inoperative: fail, ruin. Slang: bust. See help
To impair severely something such as the spirit, health, or effectiveness of: crush, destroy, overwhelm, ruin. See help
To give way mentally and emotionally. Also used with down: collapse, crack, snap. Informal: crack up, fold. See explosion
To suddenly lose all health or strength. Also used with down: cave in, collapse, crack, drop, give out, succumb. Informal: crack up. Slang: conk out. Idiom: give way. See health
To reduce to financial insolvency: bankrupt, bust, impoverish, pauperize, ruin. Slang: clean out. See money
To undergo sudden financial failure: bust, collapse, crash, fail, go under. Informal: fold. Idioms: go belly up, go bust, go on the rocks, go to the wall. See money
To lower in rank or grade: bump, degrade, demote, downgrade, reduce. Slang: bust. See rise
To fail to fulfill (a promise) or conform to (a regulation): breach, contravene, infringe, transgress, violate. See do
To refuse or fail to obey: defy, disobey, flout, transgress, violate. Idiom: pay no attention to. See resist
To desist from, cease, or discontinue (a habit, for example): cut out, give up, leave off, stop. Slang: kick. See continue
To interrupt regular activity for a short period: recess. Idioms: take a break, take a breather, take five (or ten). See continue
To make (an animal) docile: bust, gentle, master, tame. See wild

phrasal verb

break down

To cause the complete ruin or wreckage of: bankrupt, cross up, demolish, destroy, finish, ruin, shatter, sink, smash, spoil, torpedo, undo, wash up, wrack ², wreck. Slang: total. Idiom: put the kibosh on. See help
To cease functioning properly: fail, give out. Slang: conk out. See thrive
To separate into parts for study: analyze, anatomize, dissect, resolve. See assemble, investigate
To take (something) apart: disassemble, dismantle, dismount, take down. See assemble
To reduce or become reduced to pieces or components: break up, crumble, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, fragment, fragmentize. See continue, help
To become or cause to become rotten or unsound: decay, decompose, deteriorate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, rot, spoil, taint, turn. Idioms: go bad, go to pot, go to seed. See better, thrive

phrasal verb

break in

To enter forcibly or illegally: burglarize. Law: trespass. See crimes, enter
To interject remarks or questions into another's discourse: chime in, chip in, cut in, interrupt. See continue

phrasal verb

break off

To stop suddenly, as a conversation, activity, or relationship: cease, discontinue, interrupt, suspend, terminate. See continue
To cease trying to accomplish or continue: abandon, desist, discontinue, give up, leave off, quit, relinquish, remit, stop. Informal: swear off. Slang: lay off. Idioms: call it a day, call it quits, hang up one's fiddle, have done with, throw in the towel. See continue
To terminate a relationship or an association by or as if by leaving one another: break up, part, separate. Informal: split (up). Idioms: call it quits, come to a parting of the ways, part company. See assemble, continue

phrasal verb

break out

To become manifest suddenly and in full force: burst (forth or out), erupt, explode, flare (up). See explosion, start
To break loose and leave suddenly, as from confinement or from a difficult or threatening situation: abscond, decamp, escape, flee, fly, get away, run away. Informal: skip (out). Slang: lam. Regional: absquatulate. Idioms: blow (or fly) the coop, cut and run, give someone the slip, make a getaway, take flight, take it on the lam. See free

phrasal verb

break up

To make a division into parts, sections, or branches: dissever, divide, part, partition, section, segment, separate. See assemble, part
To reduce or become reduced to pieces or components: break down, crumble, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, fragment, fragmentize. See continue, help
To terminate a relationship or an association by or as if by leaving one another: break off, part, separate. Informal: split (up). Idioms: call it quits, come to a parting of the ways, part company. See assemble, continue
Informal. To express great amusement or mirth: guffaw, roar. Slang: howl. See laughter

noun

An opening, especially in a solid structure: breach, gap, hole, perforation, rupture. See open
A usually narrow partial opening caused by splitting and rupture: chink, cleavage, cleft, crack, crevice, fissure, rift, split. See open
The act or an instance of escaping, as from confinement or difficulty: breakout, decampment, escape, escapement, flight, getaway. Slang: lam. See free
A cessation of continuity or regularity: discontinuance, discontinuation, discontinuity, disruption, interruption, pause, suspension. See continue
An interval during which continuity is suspended: gap, hiatus, interim, lacuna, void. See continue
A pause or interval, as from work or duty: intermission, recess, respite, rest ¹, time-out. Informal: breather. See continue
A favorable or advantageous combination of circumstances: chance, occasion, opening, opportunity. Informal: shot. See luck
An interruption in friendly relations: alienation, breach, disaffection, estrangement, fissure, rent ², rift, rupture, schism, split. See assemble, help

Primary Navigation

Thesaurus: break