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broken

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verb

past participle of break
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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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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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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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as in stalled
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day

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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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as in emerged
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below dolphins were breaking all around the boat

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Examples 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
As dawn unfurls, golden rays pierce through the coastal mist, revealing a path of broken branches and impossibly large footprints winding past the door of my luxurious tented shelter. Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025 Bain also believes brands should fix the broken price-value equation. Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
Buffalo’s season is all but over, and the team has looked broken. Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024 When the pot was broken, the gifts would spill out, acting as an offering to Huitzilopochtli. Monica Navarro, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for broken 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken
Adjective
  • Much like the iconic caveman from Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones, Hollins went barefoot and sported a blue necktie and a short-sleeve, leopard-print loincloth with a jagged hemline.
    Gil Macias, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
  • Comments For over a century, the rugged beauty of the Dolomites — with its jagged peaks rising above lush meadows and hills — has attracted wellness travelers the world over.
    Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But the junior point guard has had an uneven transition.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2025
  • Since this type of coating has an uneven texture, the bath mat may wear out faster than other options.
    Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • For those of us who love the series, haven’t stopped playing it since it was released in October 2023, and who own every Alter Ego, this is good news.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Details matter, as the characters in Season 2 never stopped reminding us.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • But even if Rossi does get demoted to PP2, his even-strength time alongside an MVP-caliber winger should make up for it.
    Shayna Goldman, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Dillingham recalled his early days as a graduate assistant and the time then-Arizona State coach Todd Graham demoted him so former quarterback Taylor Kelly could take his position.
    Doug Haller, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Months later, the Department of Justice concluded that five Texas juvenile detention centers violated children's constitutional and civil rights.
    Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
  • The plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that the commission, by approving the plans, has violated their fundamental rights.
    Amy Green, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • People only become dependent if every problem is solved for them.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
  • This under-desk walking pad solved my problem.
    Cecily McAndrews, Health, 5 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • After realizing the mother of three was awake, the intruder immediately bolted out out of the room.
    Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 17 Dec. 2024
  • An overdose episode — Kiana bolted barefoot from their rural home and went missing overnight in the woods — brought police attention and led to charges for child endangerment.
    John Branch, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Rapidly spreading wildfires tearing through Los Angeles County Wednesday have destroyed roughly 1,000 structures and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
    Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Many celebrities, including Spencer Pratt, Anna Faris, and Adrien Brody, have unfortunately lost their homes due to the rapidly spreading wildfires, with many other Angelenos under evacuation orders.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near broken

Cite this Entry

“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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