divorce 1 of 2

noun

Definition of divorcenext
as in breakup

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

divorce

2 of 2

verb

as in to split
to set or force apart in your head you need to divorce your wishes and fantasies from the realities of the world as it is

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word divorce distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of divorce are divide, part, separate, sever, and sunder. While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

When is divide a more appropriate choice than divorce?

The words divide and divorce can be used in similar contexts, but divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

When is it sensible to use part instead of divorce?

While the synonyms part and divorce are close in meaning, part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

When could separate be used to replace divorce?

In some situations, the words separate and divorce are roughly equivalent. However, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

When can sever be used instead of divorce?

The synonyms sever and divorce are sometimes interchangeable, but sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

In what contexts can sunder take the place of divorce?

While in some cases nearly identical to divorce, sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

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 divorce
Noun
Gayheart requested to dismiss her divorce petition in March. —Meredith Nardino, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2025 Though the couple began divorce proceedings in 2018, Gayheart very recently filed to dismiss the divorce. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
Paltrow - who divorced Martin in 2016 and married Falchuck in 2018 - said combining families was tricky in the beginning. —Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025 The couple divorced in 1964, shortly after Mariska Hargitay was born. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for divorce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divorce
  1. breakup
  2. split
  3. dissolution
  4. separate
  5. alienation
  6. divide
  7. severance
  8. disconnect
Noun
  • The wedding of their friends, Jenna and Lion, brings the young lovers face-to-face after ​a painful breakup.
    — Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • In 25 games with the Hurricanes, Williams has 31 tackles, two pass breakups and one tackle for loss.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of breakup
Verb
  • Women often lose income, take on the bulk of caregiving, and carry the invisible labor of rebuilding a life, while men complain of the long-tail financial consequences of alimony, support payments, and assets split down the middle.
    — Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The use cases split almost equally between personal and business needs, with roughly half spanning both.
    — Marc Zao-Sanders, Harvard Business Review, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of split
Noun
  • Both judges were also accused of undermining the public’s confidence in the judiciary through their comments to The Capital Gazette and other publications, including a Baltimore Banner column calling for the Orphans’ Court’s dissolution.
    — Luke Parker, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The beginnings of the dissolution of dialogue Until 1990, American politics and government was always a raucous and contentious how-do-you-do, but ultimately a cooperative venture to one degree or another.
    — Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of dissolution
Verb
  • Heading into final rotation, the two championship hopefuls were separated by just 0.075.
    — Henry Chappell, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Since our family has been separated, I have been devastated and confused.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of separate
Noun
  • Mould, drummer Grant Hart, and bassist Greg Norton brought a new language of unguarded personal honesty to an early-Eighties post-hardcore scene where the default emotions were still angst and alienation.
    — Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2025
  • But parallel to that is this discussion of why there’s this alienation and loneliness in our society that is ostensibly filled with good, honest, hard-working people.
    — Jenelle Riley, Variety, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of alienation
Verb
  • The city is divided along sectarian lines: The south is home mostly to Sunni Muslims, while the northern neighborhoods are mostly Alawite.
    — Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Passengers are divided on the appropriateness of removing shoes during flights, citing comfort versus hygiene and safety.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of divide
Noun
  • General and administrative expenses rose by 27% to $16.7 million, including $1.3 million in severance costs and $1.6 million in stock compensation.
    — Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Lucas made no mention Thursday of severance or any negotiations of a separation agreement.
    — Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of severance
Verb
  • People want to disconnect, and the Capella wants to help them in big and small ways.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
  • If the acting isn’t capable of conveying the language, then people are going to disconnect.
    — Jeanne Rawdin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of disconnect

Browse Nearby Words

divisions
divorce
divorced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Divorce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divorce. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on divorce

Nglish: Translation of divorce for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about divorce

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