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Definitions

broken

[broh-kuhn] / ˈbroʊ kən /
ADJECTIVE
destroyed; made into pieces from a whole
Synonyms
STRONGEST
busted collapsed cracked crumbled crushed damaged defective demolished destroyed fractured fragmented injured mangled mutilated ruptured severed shattered smashed splintered
STRONG
burst disintegrated dismembered pulverized rent riven separated shivered shredded slivered split
WEAK
fragmentary in pieces
Antonyms
STRONGEST
repaired unbroken
STRONG
mended patched up restored
WEAK
complete fixed perfect whole
ADJECTIVE
discontinuous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
discontinuous
STRONG
disconnected disturbed interrupted
WEAK
erratic fragmentary incomplete intermittent irregular spasmodic spastic
Antonyms
WEAK
complete connected constant continuous fixed flowing steady unbroken unremitting whole
ADJECTIVE
mentally defeated
Synonyms
STRONGEST
beaten crushed
STRONG
browbeaten defeated demoralized depressed discouraged disheartened humbled oppressed overpowered subdued tamed vanquished
WEAK
heartsick
Antonyms
STRONG
encouraged resolute
WEAK
unbroken uplifted
ADJECTIVE
not working
Synonyms
STRONGEST
busted defective faulty ruined wrecked
STRONG
dead disabled down gone out shot spent wracked
WEAK
coming unstuck fallen apart feeble gone to pieces haywire imperfect in disrepair in need of repair in the shop inoperable inoperative kaput not functioning on the blink on the fritz out of commission out of kilter out of order out of whack run down screwed-up unsatisfactory weak
Antonyms
STRONGEST
perfect repaired
WEAK
fixed working
ADJECTIVE
forgotten, ignored (promise)
Synonyms
STRONG
abandoned dishonored disobeyed disregarded ignored infringed retracted traduced transgressed violated
Antonyms
WEAK
kept satisfied unbroken
ADJECTIVE
stuttering in speech
Synonyms
STRONGEST
discontinuous stuttering
STRONG
disjointed halting hesitating muttered stammering
WEAK
hesitant incoherent mumbled unintelligible weak
Antonyms
WEAK
continuous flowing fluent unbroken

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sooner or later we must stop believing in fairy tales and repeated broken promises, and embrace reality again.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Shareholders have cheered the decisions by Detroit automakers to scrap their boldest EV dreams—looking beyond $50 billion in charges tied to broken supplier contracts and wasted investments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Although he was a convicted criminal and had reportedly broken out of jail three times, Karlson had always maintained that the 1991 incident was a case of mistaken identity.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

"The fracture caused a very loud snapping noise that actually startled me. I thought at first the machine had broken, but soon realized that the noise came from the stretching fluid."

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

Anvo Noorvik said, "I got Doc Evans. He's over in Grassy Creek working on broken legs. He'll be here in six hours or less, depending on the weather."

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.