broken
adjective
bro·ken ˈbrō-kən 
1
: violently separated into parts : shattered
broken windows
2
: damaged or altered by or as if by breaking (see break entry 1): such as
a
: having undergone or been subjected to fracture
a broken leg
b
: not working properly
a broken camera
c
of land surfaces : being irregular, interrupted, or full of obstacles
a long broken ridge
d
: violated by transgression : not kept or honored
a broken promise
e
: discontinuous, interrupted
a broken sleep
f
: disrupted by change
g
of a tulip flower : having an irregular, streaked, or blotched pattern especially from virus infection
3
a
: made weak or infirm
his old, broken body
b
: subdued completely : crushed, sorrowful
a broken heart
a broken spirit
c
: bankrupt
d
: reduced in rank
was broken from sergeant to private
4
a
: cut off : disconnected
spoke a few broken words
b
: imperfectly spoken or written
broken English
5
: not complete or full
a broken bale of hay
6
: disunited by divorce, separation, or desertion of one parent
children from broken homes
a broken family
brokenly adverb
brokenness
ˈbrō-kə(n)-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- busted
- fractured
- fragmented
- shattered
- smashed
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The street was covered with broken glass. a broken vase that could not be repaired
Recent Examples on the Web These clinics, however, were not designed to carry the full weight of chronic illness care in a broken health care system. 
WIRED, 2 Sep. 2022 True to form, the Oscar-winning actor and activist not only shared this news with grace and candor but used it as an opportunity to call attention to the U.S.’s broken healthcare system. Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2022 For her dedication to better the lives of foster youth and for her efforts to transform the broken system, Delara Tehranchi is recognized as a Seventeen Voice of Change. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 30 Aug. 2022 The weight of the broken system spiraled out of control once violent police forces attempted to contain the emboldened crowds. Holly Jones, Variety, 16 Aug. 2022 To Curtis, who has since become an advocate for legislative changes that would protect children from abusive parents, the broken family court system forces caring parents to break the law. Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2022 Even with the best intentions though, a handful of brands barely makes a dent in a broken system. Amelia Arvesen, Outside Online, 1 Aug. 2022 For decades, that equation has not yielded a major overhaul of the broken U.S. immigration system despite numerous attempts. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2022 California’s broken recycling system is making cans hard to find. Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2022 See More
WIRED, 2 Sep. 2022 True to form, the Oscar-winning actor and activist not only shared this news with grace and candor but used it as an opportunity to call attention to the U.S.’s broken healthcare system. Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2022 For her dedication to better the lives of foster youth and for her efforts to transform the broken system, Delara Tehranchi is recognized as a Seventeen Voice of Change. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 30 Aug. 2022 The weight of the broken system spiraled out of control once violent police forces attempted to contain the emboldened crowds. Holly Jones, Variety, 16 Aug. 2022 To Curtis, who has since become an advocate for legislative changes that would protect children from abusive parents, the broken family court system forces caring parents to break the law. Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2022 Even with the best intentions though, a handful of brands barely makes a dent in a broken system. Amelia Arvesen, Outside Online, 1 Aug. 2022 For decades, that equation has not yielded a major overhaul of the broken U.S. immigration system despite numerous attempts. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2022 California’s broken recycling system is making cans hard to find. Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English brocen, from past participle of brecan to break
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing broken
Kids Definition
broken 1 of 2
past participle of Break
broken
2 of 2adjective
bro·ken ˈbrō-kən
1
: separated into parts or pieces
broken glass
a broken bone
2
: not working properly
a broken camera
3
: having gaps or breaks
a broken line
4
: not kept or followed
a broken promise
5
: imperfectly spoken
broken English
Medical Definition
broken
adjective
bro·ken ˈbrō-kən
: having undergone or been subjected to fracture
a broken leg
Legal Definition
broken
past participle of break
broken 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in shattered
forcibly separated into many pieces a broken vase that could not be repaired Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- shattered
- fractured
- smashed
- damaged
- ruined
- busted
- cracked
- fragmented
- collapsed
- split
- destroyed
- splintered
- demolished
- fragile
- wrecked
- exploded
- blasted
- mangled
- disintegrated
- devastated
- mutilated
- pulverized
- brittle
- obliterated
- detonated
- breakable
- imploded
- defaced
- delicate
- eradicated
- slivered
- wiped out
- exterminated
- dynamited
- frail
- ruinate
- extirpated
- frangible
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- repaired
- unbroken
- fixed
- mended
- reconstructed
- healed
- rebuilt
- patched
- unbreakable
- infrangible
2
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline the broken rim of the antique vase greatly reduces its value Synonyms & Similar Words
- jagged
- ragged
- craggy
- scraggly
- scraggy
- roughened
- rough
- irregular
- rugged
- serrated
- harsh
- bumpy
- serrate
- coarse
- saw-toothed
- nonuniform
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clean
- smooth
- soft
- unbroken
- even
- regular
- uniform
- flat
- level
- flush
- plane
3
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface that portion of the hiking trail consists of a long, broken mountain ridge Synonyms & Similar Words
- jagged
- uneven
- rough
- ragged
- rugged
- roughened
- irregular
- wavy
- lumpy
- bumpy
- coarse
- unbalanced
- scraggy
- pebbly
- pocked
- lopsided
- pitted
- rutted
- unaligned
- burred
- harsh
- undulating
- inexact
- rutty
- scratchy
- undulatory
- knobby
- knurled
- scraggly
- nubby
- knobbly
- nonuniform
- nubbly
- knurly
- sandpapery
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- flat
- smooth
- even
- aligned
- uniform
- true
- exact
- regular
- level
- straight
- plane
- vertical
- horizontal
- alined
- flush
- plumb
- tabular
broken
2 of 2verb
1
as in fractured
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase Synonyms & Similar Words
- fractured
- smashed
- shattered
- fragmented
- disrupted
- disintegrated
- cracked
- ruined
- destroyed
- split
- reduced
- dismembered
- busted
- riven
- ground
- broken up
- rived
- splintered
- pulverized
- crushed
- popped
- exploded
- bust
- chipped
- wrecked
- powdered
- burst
- atomized
- blasted
- imploded
- detonated
- bursted
- shivered
- blown up
- slivered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- repaired
- fixed
- rebuilt
- mended
- healed
- reconstructed
- patched
- renovated
- reconditioned
- doctored
2
as in stopped
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end the final vote broke the deadlock Synonyms & Similar Words
- stopped
- halted
- ended
- broken off
- suspended
- delayed
- ceased
- laid off
- suspended
- quit
- concluded
- quitted
- cut off
- shut off
- broken up
- left off
- dropped
- given over
- knocked off
- cut out
- discontinued
- destroyed
- finished
- blocked
- canned
- held
- ruined
- hindered
- completed
- packed (up or in)
- obstructed
- had done with
- desisted (from)
- stemmed
- impeded
- squashed
- stunted
- put the kibosh on
- checked
- deactivated
- demolished
- suppressed
- killed
- dissolved
- abolished
- dammed
- stamped
- held back
- called
- stayed
- scuttled
- arrested
- clamped down
- turned back
- squelched
- detained
- paused
- snuffed
- blockaded
- closed (down)
- aborted
- annulled
- braked
- staunched
- kiboshed
- stanched
- reined (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continued
- kept up
- progressed
- proceeded
- advanced
- stirred
- run on
- driven
- followed through (with)
- propelled
- carried on
- actuated
- impelled
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- demoted
- reduced
- degraded
- busted
- downgraded
- laid off
- disrated
- dismissed
- sacked
- bust
- humiliated
- downsized
- canned
- humbled
- debased
- fired
- cashiered
- demeaned
- lowered
- abased
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- raised
- promoted
- advanced
- elevated
- hired
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- deciphered
- cracked
- solved
- translated
- decoded
- decrypted
- unraveled
- rendered
- descrambled
- unriddled
- unscrambled
- figured out
- wrought
- worked out
- worked
- doped (out)
- puzzled (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- coded
- encoded
- encrypted
- ciphered
- garbled
- enciphered
- mixed (up)
- jumbled (up)
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- paused
- interrupted
- broken in
- stopped
- held one's horses
- caught one's breath
- hesitated
- ended
- laid off
- finished
- ceased
- terminated
- discontinued
- lapsed
- knocked off
- quitted
- quit
- let up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continued
- persisted
- extended
- stretched
- advanced
- prolonged
- progressed
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- plowed
- raked
- furrowed
- fallowed
- tilled
- harrowed
- cultivated
- hoed
- rototilled
- listed
7
as in violated
to fail to keep had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone Synonyms & Similar Words
- violated
- fractured
- breached
- transgressed
- contravened
- ignored
- offended
- traduced
- disobeyed
- disregarded
- neglected
- infringed (on or upon)
- rebelled
- blown off
- flouted
- resisted
- passed over
- dismissed
- tuned out
- slighted
- scorned
- withstood
- overpassed
- overlooked
- shrugged off
- defied
- winked (at)
- brushed (off)
- poohed
- pooh-poohed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- followed
- observed
- served
- obeyed
- submitted (to)
- marked
- yielded (to)
- conformed (to)
- heard
- surrendered (to)
- noticed
- deferred (to)
- complied (with)
- watched
- noted
- regarded
- listened (to)
- minded
- attended
- heeded
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- solved
- resolved
- cracked
- unraveled
- unriddled
- figured out
- answered
- worked out
- wrought
- worked
- doped (out)
- riddled (out)
- deduced
- inferred
- untied
- ironed out
- puzzled (out)
- reasoned
- presumed
- judged
- untangled
- concluded
- decided
- divined
- gathered
- speculated
- conjectured
- assumed
- unscrambled
- straightened (out)
- deciphered
- guessed
- decoded
- cleared (up)
9
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of I broke a tooth on the hard candy Synonyms & Similar Words
- damaged
- hurt
- injured
- shattered
- flawed
- crippled
- impaired
- compromised
- dented
- disfigured
- marred
- smashed
- harmed
- bloodied
- ruined
- defaced
- blemished
- weakened
- spoiled
- destroyed
- crushed
- crabbed
- undermined
- deteriorated
- wasted
- eroded
- battered
- vitiated
- wounded
- spoilt
- endamaged
- tarnished
- wrecked
- demolished
- enfeebled
- mangled
- blighted
- crossed (up)
- lacerated
- mutilated
- tortured
- enervated
- scoured
- washed out
- dinged
- disabled
- botched
- maimed
- tormented
- decimated
- dashed
- pulverized
- hamstrung
- lamed
- dinted
- wiped out
- torn down
- devastated
- bashed
- annihilated
- clobbered
- worn (away)
- desolated
- razed
- scourged
- banged up
- totaled
- queered
- totalled
- done in
- gummed (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- repaired
- fixed
- rebuilt
- mended
- reconstructed
- patched
- renovated
- healed
- reconditioned
- revamped
- cured
- helped
- doctored
- rectified
- remedied
- rehabilitated
- revised
- improved
- remodeled
- edited
- enhanced
- refined
- enriched
- perfected
- bettered
- ameliorated
- meliorated
10
as in stalled
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day Synonyms & Similar Words
- stalled
- crashed
- died
- failed
- malfunctioned
- jammed
- given out
- broken down
- cut out
- fizzled
- conked (out)
- sputtered
- wheezed
- acted up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- started (up)
11
as in bolted
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- bolted
- fled
- flown
- retreated
- escaped
- run
- run off
- beaten it
- bugged out
- beaten a retreat
- run away
- turned tail
- made tracks
- scatted
- got out
- skedaddled
- lammed
- lit
- absconded
- hightailed (it)
- made off
- cleared out
- skirred
- mizzled
- scrammed
- decamped
- lighted out
- eloped
- scarpered
- gotten out
- skipped (out)
- gotten (away)
- got (away)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- confronted
- faced
- defied
- remained
- dared
- bearded
- stayed
- lingered
- braved
- hung around
- dwelt
- dwelled
- stuck around
- abided
- tarried
- abode
12
as in worn
to use up all the physical energy of the trek up the mountain just about broke me Synonyms & Similar Words
- worn
- tired
- exhausted
- killed
- drained
- weakened
- burned out
- busted
- wearied
- knocked out
- outworn
- harassed
- worn out
- wasted
- fatigued
- burnt out
- washed out
- done up
- frazzled
- worn to a frazzle
- fagged
- debilitated
- sapped
- enfeebled
- bust
- done in
- tuckered (out)
- enervated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strengthened
- activated
- energized
- rested
- rejuvenated
- relaxed
- invigorated
- vitalized
- unwound
13
as in unfolded
to become known as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country Synonyms & Similar Words
- unfolded
- circulated
- spread
- got out
- got round
- got about
- gotten out
- gotten around
- come out
- got around
- leaked (out)
- spilled
- revealed
- gotten round
- gotten about
- developed
- outed
- transpired
- spilt
- disclosed
- told
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- suppressed
- hidden
- concealed
- hid
- disguised
- masked
- hushed (up)
- secreted
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- ruined
- bankrupted
- busted
- reduced
- impoverished
- pauperized
- bust
- beggared
- wiped out
- straitened
- cleaned (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- enriched
- richened
15
as in originated
to come into existence the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking Synonyms & Similar Words
- originated
- been
- arisen
- set in
- begun
- sprung
- arrived
- started
- existed
- commenced
- appeared
- lived
- formed
- dawned
- emerged
- actualized
- engendered
- materialized
- lasted
- subsisted
- survived
- breathed
- persisted
- coalesced
- endured
- come on
- cohered
- continued
- shaped (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ended
- stopped
- ceased
- finished
- disappeared
- terminated
- vanished
- dissolved
- halted
- concluded
- died
- discontinued
- evaporated
- quit
- expired
- perished
- departed
- quitted
- desisted
- passed away
16
as in cut
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds Synonyms & Similar Words
- cut
- veered
- curled
- curved
- circled
- bowed
- sheered
- arched
- turned
- yawed
- twisted
- wandered
- crooked
- swept
- bent
- swerved
- skewed
- wound
- zagged
- rounded
- slued
- pivoted
- arced
- hooked
- spiraled
- zigged
- looped
- coiled
- weaved
- strayed
- wheeled
- deviated
- slewed
- zigzagged
- spiralled
- wavered
- about-faced
- winded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- straightened
17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks Synonyms & Similar Words
- reduced
- sunk
- devalued
- depressed
- attenuated
- depreciated
- written off
- lowered
- written down
- downgraded
- marked down
- cheapened
- devaluated
- shrunk
- debased
- compressed
- underestimated
- shrunken
- undervalued
- demonetized
- deflated
- dwindled
- underrated
- downsized
- contracted
- lessened
- moderated
- underpriced
- abridged
- de-escalated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- upgraded
- enhanced
- appreciated
- blown up
- inflated
- marked up
- extended
- increased
- swollen
- augmented
- added
- expanded
- swelled
- bloated
- raised
- enlarged
- multiplied
- overpriced
- compounded
- amplified
- overrated
- overestimated
- escalated
- boosted
- dilated
- overvalued
- maximized
- heightened
- upped
- ballooned
- aggrandized
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
- exceeded
- invaded
- transcended
- surpassed
- entrenched
- overrun
- overreached
- outrun
- trespassed
- encroached
- outreached
- overshot
- overstepped
- overpassed
- infringed
- overworked
- intrenched
- overused
- overdone
- overutilized
19
as in emerged
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below dolphins were breaking all around the boat Synonyms & Similar Words
- emerged
- risen
- surfaced
- broached
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dropped
- sunk
- submerged
- drowned
- plunged
- foundered
- dived
- dove
- submersed