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broken
[broh-kuhn]
adjective
reduced to fragments; fragmented.
ruptured; torn; fractured.
not functioning properly; out of working order.
Meteorology., (of sky cover) being more than half, but not totally, covered by clouds.
changing direction abruptly.
The fox ran in a broken line.
fragmentary or incomplete.
a broken ton of coal weighing 1,500 pounds.
infringed or violated.
A broken promise is a betrayal of trust.
interrupted, disrupted, or disconnected.
After the phone call he returned to his broken sleep.
weakened in strength, spirit, etc..
His broken health was due to alcoholism.
tamed, trained, or reduced to submission.
The horse was broken to the saddle.
imperfectly spoken, as language.
She still speaks broken English.
spoken in a halting or fragmentary manner, as under emotional strain.
He uttered a few broken words of sorrow.
(of a relationship) split apart; not intact.
a broken marriage.
(of a family) disunited or divided by the prolonged or permanent absence of a parent, usually due to divorce or desertion: broken families.
a child from a broken home;
broken families.
not smooth; rough or irregular.
We left the plains and rode through broken country.
ruined; bankrupt.
the broken fortunes of his family.
Papermaking, Printing., a quantity of paper of less than 500 or 1000 sheets.
broken
/ ˈbrəʊkən /
verb
the past participle of break
adjective
fractured, smashed, or splintered
a broken vase
imperfect or incomplete; fragmentary
a broken set of books
interrupted; disturbed; disconnected
broken sleep
intermittent or discontinuous
broken sunshine
varying in direction or intensity, as of pitch
a broken note
a broken run
not functioning
a broken radio
spoilt or ruined by divorce (esp in the phrases broken home , broken marriage )
(of a trust, promise, contract, etc) violated; infringed
overcome with grief or disappointment
a broken heart
(of the speech of a foreigner) imperfect in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation
broken English
Also: broken-in. made tame or disciplined by training
a broken horse
a broken recruit
exhausted or weakened as through ill-health or misfortune
confused or disorganized
broken ranks of soldiers
breached or opened
broken defensive lines
irregular or rough; uneven
broken ground
bankrupt or out of money
a broken industry
(of colour) having a multicoloured decorative effect, as by stippling paint onto a surface
informal, drunk
Other Word Forms
- brokenly adverb
- brokenness noun
- half-broken adjective
- well-broken adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of broken1
Example Sentences
The president’s agenda suffered several setbacks this week, as federal judges across the country ruled his administration had broken the law in various instances.
With England international Lucy Bronze still recovering from the broken tibia she played with during Euro 2025, Carpenter was handed an immediate chance to make an impression.
McLaren have traced the engine failure in last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix that dented Norris' title hopes to a broken oil line - a McLaren issue rather than a problem with the Mercedes engine.
We took steps to stabilise the broken foundations of local government and deliver the first genuinely fair funding review and the first multi-year settlement for a decade.
"Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places."
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Related Words
- busted
- collapsed www.thesaurus.com
- cracked
- crumbled www.thesaurus.com
- crushed www.thesaurus.com
- damaged www.thesaurus.com
- defective
- demolished www.thesaurus.com
- destroyed www.thesaurus.com
- fractured www.thesaurus.com
- fragmented
- injured www.thesaurus.com
- mangled www.thesaurus.com
- mutilated www.thesaurus.com
- ruptured www.thesaurus.com
- severed
- shattered
- smashed
- splintered www.thesaurus.com
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