break in 1 of 2

1
as in to invade
to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent the burglars broke in by smashing a window

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2
as in to interrupt
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met

Synonyms & Similar Words

break-in

2 of 2

noun

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 break in
Verb
One benefit of following the game’s road map, though, is there are distinct breaks in the overall story to build seasons around. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025 Police made five more arrests in connection with a prison break in New Orleans this weekend, Fox News has learned. Anders Hagstrom , Nate Foy , Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
Noun
At the teen suspect's home, authorities found nearly 20 sets of car keys, credit cards, and other evidence that linked him to the car break-ins, Hamill said. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025 Stephen McMahon invented and first deployed the device outside his Santa Monica condominium complex storage area after a break-in and a neighbor with her infant daughter was assaulted by two men. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for break in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break in
Verb
  • Amid President Trump’s threats to start a global trade war, invade Greenland, seize control of the Panama Canal and annex Canada, this story has gone virtually unnoticed: Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades — maybe since the 1959 revolution.
    Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025
  • The conflict began in 2022 when Russian forces invaded Ukraine.
    Brett Samuels, The Hill, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Yet no one candidate was given more than 30 seconds or a minute to respond to questions, and they were often interrupted by other candidates seeking to interject.
    Jared Gans, The Hill, 5 June 2025
  • Tesla’s 2 big sellers - the Model 3 and Model Y - have recently been updated, which interrupted production.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • There were other items also recovered believed to be connected with recent burglaries in New Brighton, a Minneapolis suburb, the report said.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
  • He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree burglary as a third striker, with various enhancements.
    Harry Harris, Mercury News, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • He was robbed of an extra-base hit by Victor Scott II in center field and Nolan Arenado took away another hit.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2025
  • Lochte initially claimed he and his teammates were robbed at gunpoint, but it was determined those with the guns were actually security guards at a gas station where the swimmers had urinated outside a bathroom.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Not only that, the 1 [million] households earning over $1 [million] a year would receive $105 [billion] in tax cuts in 2027 – that’s more than the tax cuts going to the 127 [million] households earning under $100,000.
    Jim Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
  • Most House Republicans continue to back the Big, Beautiful bill, which extends expiring income tax rates beyond 2025 but also makes big cuts in Medicaid, food assistance and other government programs.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • The holdup is likely related to Epic Games' recent changes to allow external payments on in-game purchases.
    James Peckham, PC Magazine, 14 May 2025
  • Images shared on social media showed road traffic holdups in Bali as a result of the outage and long lines at the airport check-in counters.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 2 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Break in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20in. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

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