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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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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 broken
Adjective
Wells was transported to an area hospital and sustained a broken right wrist, according to Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025 Aidan Hutchinson will return and should be at full strength after suffering a broken leg early last year. Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 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
  • Boulders offer a jagged look For a rugged look, consider a retaining wall made from large boulders.
    Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Shot-reverse shot sequences are somewhat abrupt, the characters segregated in their individual frames, Spicer using different angles on close-ups to lend to that jagged sense of separation.
    Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But with the addition of meaty tires, the result is bobbling side to side on uneven pavement, and the occasional entertaining hop over water channels at boulevard intersections.
    Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The formula combines powerful but gentle ingredients like tranexamic acid, kojic acid, and niacinamide to tackle dark spots, acne scars, and uneven tone.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Medicaid continued to process payments during that time, but Blue Cross Blue Shield stopped paying after a few months.
    Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • Hackett was also demoted from his play-calling duties after Saleh was fired.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • When Schmidt returns to the majors next week, Will Warren will probably be demoted.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least two and a half hours per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or an hour and 15 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or some combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week.
    Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Ultimately, a total of 59 bodies were shipped home for burial, while another 150 were buried in Halifax, spread among three cemeteries.
    Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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