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
After the divorce was finalized, Jolie’s lawyer, James Simon, issued a statement to NBC News on Dec. 31. —Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025 The former couple met on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith and began dating in 2005 after Pitt finalized his divorce from Jennifer Aniston. —Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
Verb
But at the beginning of Jonathan Tropper’s Your Friends and Neighbors, he’s fired from his job and divorced from his wife. —Barry Levitt, Time, 30 May 2025 Following Rhode’s deal, fans told Hailey to divorce Justin to protect her money. —Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 29 May 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
  • While rumors of their breakup continued to circulate online at the time, fans noticed a small detail missing from Sweeney’s Instagram account.
    — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
  • Again and again, West apologized to Ciara Miller for talking mess to the New York Times, handling their breakup poorly, and then clamming up all summer.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 May 2025
Definition of breakup
Verb
  • Long connected off Brooklyn’s Carl Erskine at Forbes Field. 1968 — The American League announced the league will be split into two divisions.
    — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
  • In his four years split between Jackson State and Colorado, the son of the legendary Deion Sanders threw for 14,347 yards, 134 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions, while completing 70.1 percent of his attempts.
    — Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Definition of split
Noun
  • The breakthrough is the fruit of incredible recent performance in all age groups for the nation of 36 million people, which became independent in 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR.
    — Hassan Tayir, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
  • Why, then, engage language at all? Lijn explained her simultaneous recruitment and dissolution of language as a way to cope with her growing sense that words had become tired and lost any vital force.
    — Marina Isgro, Artforum, 1 June 2025
Definition of dissolution
Verb
  • Airlines also often try to separate business travelers from leisure travelers, because business travelers are typically less price sensitive.
    — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 4 June 2025
  • While they are legally separated, their divorce has stalled due to Girardi's conservatorship and legal troubles.
    — Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 4 June 2025
Definition of separate
Noun
  • The filmmaker may have set the movie in a Finnish location known to few but the universal story rings a bell on alienation and the healing powers of community that seems fit to strike a chord with audiences far beyond Finland.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
  • Even doing it for a week improves your sense of well-being and decreases your sense of alienation and loneliness.
    — NBC News, NBC news, 25 May 2025
Definition of alienation
Verb
  • Model parallelism divides the neural network itself across hardware.
    — Jitender Jain, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Americans were also divided over what their separation means for the country, according to the survey, which has a margin of error of 2.1 percentage points.
    — Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
Definition of divide
Noun
  • The Commission has not stated a reason for her termination, and said in a prior records response that there was no severance agreement for Theodat.
    — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 24 May 2025
  • Foot Locker’s proxy notes that the company does not provide for any excessive severance or change in control payments.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 16 May 2025
Definition of severance
Verb
  • If time permits, disconnect utilities and appliances.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2025
  • If time permits, lock your home upon departure and disconnect utilities and appliances.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2025
Definition of disconnect

Browse Nearby Words

divisions
divorce
divorced
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Cite this Entry

“Divorce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divorce. Accessed 10 Jun. 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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