Another word for break
break
n.
The act of breaking
fracture, rift, split, schism, cleavage, dissevering, riving, breach, rupture, eruption, bursting, failure, collapse, disjunction; see also division 1, fracture 1, parting 2.
The effect of breaking
A pause
Quarrel and separation
rift, difference, difference of opinion, altercation, parting of the ways; see also sense 1, disagreement 1, dispute.
Fortunate change or event: often plural
good luck, accident, favorable circumstances, opportunity; see luck 1.
break
v.
To start a rupture
crack, burst, split, rend, rupture, sunder, sever, fracture, tear, cleave, rive, break into, break through, force open, puncture, pierce, breach, snap, slash, gash, dissect, slice, detach, divide, separate, disjoin, bust*; see also cut 1, 2, divide 1.
To shatter
smash, shatter, crash, break up, crush, break to atoms, shiver, splinter, smash to flinders, pull to pieces, break all to pieces, fragment, fragmentize, crumble, bust up*, break all to smithereens*.
To fall apart
disintegrate, fall apart, shiver, burst, shatter, fall to pieces, splinter, crumble, collapse, break down, come apart, come off, get loose, fall off, fall down, cave in, give way, dilapidate, go to wrack and ruin, get wrecked, break into flinders, split, be destroyed, get busted*, fold up*, come unstuck*, come unglued*, come apart at the seams*; see also break down 3, disintegrate 1.
To bring to ruin or to an end
demolish, annihilate, eradicate, crush; see destroy 1.
To violate
infringe, fail to observe, contravene; see transgress, violate 1.
To interrupt
disrupt, discontinue, suspend, recess; see interrupt 2, suspend 2.
To make known
To make tractable or spiritless
To happen
come to pass, come into being, occur, develop; see happen 2.
break, the most general of these terms, expresses their basic idea of separating into pieces as a result of impact, stress, etc.; smash and crash add connotations of suddenness, violence, and noise; crush suggests a crumpling or pulverizing pressure; shatter, sudden fragmentation and a scattering of pieces; crack, incomplete separation of parts or a sharp, snapping noise in breaking; split, separation lengthwise, as along the direction of the grain or layers; fracture, the breaking of a hard or rigid substance, as bone or rock; splinter, the splitting of wood, bone, etc. into long, thin, sharp pieces: all of these terms are used figuratively to imply great force or damage to break one's heart, smash one's hopes, crush the opposition, shatter one's nerves, etc.
MLA Style
"break." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://thesaurus.yourdictionary.com/break>.
APA Style
break. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://thesaurus.yourdictionary.com/break
Another word for break
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, shiver2, smash, splinter, sunder. See helpTo 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 assembleTo make a hole or other opening in.
Also used with through: breach, gap, hole, perforate, pierce, puncture. See openTo pass into or through by overcoming resistance.
Also used with through: enter, penetrate, perforate, pierce, puncture. See enterTo find the key to (a code, for example):
crack, decipher, decrypt, puzzle out. See knowledgeTo make known:
carry, communicate, convey, disclose, get across, impart, pass, report, tell, transmit. See knowledgeTo be made public:
come out, get out, out, transpire. (Informal) leak (out). Idiom: come to light. See knowledge, showTo make or become unusable or inoperative:
fail, ruin. (Slang) bust. See helpTo impair severely something such as the spirit, health, or effectiveness of:
crush, destroy, overwhelm, ruin. See helpTo give way mentally and emotionally.
Also used with down: collapse, crack, snap. (Informal) crack up, fold. See explosionTo 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 healthTo reduce to financial insolvency:
bankrupt, bust, impoverish, pauperize, ruin. (Slang) clean out. See moneyTo 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 moneyTo lower in rank or grade:
bump, degrade, demote, downgrade, reduce. (Slang) bust. See riseTo fail to fulfill (a promise) or conform to (a regulation):
breach, contravene, infringe, transgress, violate. See doTo refuse or fail to obey:
defy, disobey, flout, transgress, violate. Idiom: pay no attention to. See resistTo desist from, cease, or discontinue (a habit, for example):
cut out, give up, leave off, stop. (Slang) kick. See continueTo interrupt regular activity for a short period:
recess. Idioms: take a break, take a breather, take five (or ten). See continueTo make (an animal) docile:
bust, gentle, master, tame. See wild
To cause the complete ruin or wreckage of:
bankrupt, cross up, demolish, destroy, finish, ruin, shatter, sink, smash, spoil, torpedo, undo, wash up, wrack2, wreck. (Slang) total. Idiom: put the kibosh on. See helpTo cease functioning properly:
fail, give out. (Slang) conk out. See thriveTo separate into parts for study:
analyze, anatomize, dissect, resolve. See assemble, investigateTo take (something) apart:
disassemble, dismantle, dismount, take down. See assembleTo reduce or become reduced to pieces or components:
break up, crumble, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, fragment, fragmentize. See continue, helpTo 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
To enter forcibly or illegally:
burglarize. (Law) trespass. See crimes, enterTo interject remarks or questions into another's discourse:
chime in, chip in, cut in, interrupt. See continue
To stop suddenly, as a conversation, activity, or relationship:
cease, discontinue, interrupt, suspend, terminate. See continueTo 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 continueTo 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
To become manifest suddenly and in full force:
burst (forth or out), erupt, explode, flare (up). See explosion, startTo 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
To make a division into parts, sections, or branches:
dissever, divide, part, partition, section, segment, separate. See assemble, partTo reduce or become reduced to pieces or components:
break down, crumble, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, fragment, fragmentize. See continue, helpTo 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
An opening, especially in a solid structure:
breach, gap, hole, perforation, rupture. See openA usually narrow partial opening caused by splitting and rupture:
chink, cleavage, cleft, crack, crevice, fissure, rift, split. See openThe act or an instance of escaping, as from confinement or difficulty:
breakout, decampment, escape, escapement, flight, getaway. (Slang) lam. See freeA cessation of continuity or regularity:
discontinuance, discontinuation, discontinuity, disruption, interruption, pause, suspension. See continueAn interval during which continuity is suspended:
gap, hiatus, interim, lacuna, void. See continueA pause or interval, as from work or duty:
intermission, recess, respite, rest1, time-out. (Informal) breather. See continueA favorable or advantageous combination of circumstances:
chance, occasion, opening, opportunity. (Informal) shot. See luckAn interruption in friendly relations:
alienation, breach, disaffection, estrangement, fissure, rent2, rift, rupture, schism, split. See assemble, help
MLA Style
"break." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://thesaurus.yourdictionary.com/break>.
APA Style
break. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://thesaurus.yourdictionary.com/break
