Synonyms of broke
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as in impoverished 
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as in disrupted
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as in ended
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as in demoted
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as in deciphered
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as in paused
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as in plowed
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as in violated
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as in solved
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as in damaged
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as in died
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as in retreated
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as in wore
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as in circulated
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as in ruined
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as in began
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as in veered
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as in reduced
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as in exceeded
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as in surfaced
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Example Sentences
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Entries Near
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
too broke to afford even a used car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in disrupted
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase
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2
as in ended
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the final vote broke the deadlock
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3
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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4
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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5
as in paused
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime
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6
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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7
as in violated
to fail to keep
had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in solved
to find an answer for through reasoning
Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds
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9
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
I broke a tooth on the hard candy
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10
as in died
to stop functioning
after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day
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11
as in retreated
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above
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12
as in wore
to use up all the physical energy of
the trek up the mountain just about broke me
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in circulated
to become known
as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country
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14
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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15
as in began
to come into existence
the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking
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16
as in veered
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds
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17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of
distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks
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18
as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of broke
Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2025
The immediate crisis has passed for the Isaac School District, and the Arizona State Board of Education awaits plans on what will likely be a years-long process to nurse the district back to fiscal health after going broke mid-school year.
—Jeremy Duda, Axios, 4 Feb. 2025
Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Dec. 2024
But then the defense broke again on the Blue run.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for broke
Adjective
How To Die Alone followed Mel (Rothwell), a broke, fat, Black JFK airport employee who’s never been in love and forgotten how to dream, until an accidental brush with death catapults her on a journey to finally take flight and start living by any means necessary.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2025
The immediate crisis has passed for the Isaac School District, and the Arizona State Board of Education awaits plans on what will likely be a years-long process to nurse the district back to fiscal health after going broke mid-school year.
—Jeremy Duda, Axios, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
After the news of Zuckerberg’s bunker broke, other one-percenters followed suit.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Dec. 2024
But then the defense broke again on the Blue run.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for broke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke
Adjective
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Criminal justice scholars say that when scores based on immutable facts are weighted so heavily in parole decisions, prisoners from impoverished, racially segregated communities are more likely to be hurt.—
Richard A. Webster,
ProPublica,
10 Apr. 2025
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The once-vacant lot across the street from her childhood playground on Washington Avenue is now home to Wilcox Academy, an early learning center that represents a powerful investment in a historically impoverished community.—
Raymond Pierce,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Behind the scenes there was no doubt other dreams were dashed and processes disrupted.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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After a season disrupted by injuries and fewer starts, the writing was on the wall.—
Julia Ranney,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Herro ended the night with eight points on 3-of-11 shooting from the field, 0-of-1 shooting on threes and 2-of-2 shooting from the foul line, three rebounds, four assists and six turnovers in 39 minutes.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
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While the Heat’s losing skid continued, another streak ended.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hackett was also demoted from his play-calling duties after Saleh was fired.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2025
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When Schmidt returns to the majors next week, Will Warren will probably be demoted.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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People only become dependent if every problem is solved for them.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
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This under-desk walking pad solved my problem.—
Cecily McAndrews,
Health,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
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At the time, Colorado had recorded 25 cases, including seven infants who were stillborn or died within months of birth from complications of the infection, and Herlihy said that the state could have more than 100 cases if nothing changed.—
Meg Wingerter,
The Denver Post,
28 Jan. 2025
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Fewer than 100 members of the military died from COVID-19, according to the Department of Defense.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But while there are still a lot of questions to be answered, the prospect of a Pixel-like camera design seems to have retreated.—
David Phelan,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
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It’s hardly been altered in the 17,000 years or so since those glaciers retreated.—
Ashley Balzer Vigil,
Ars Technica,
21 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Broke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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