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breakup

breakup

107 3.4
The end of a relationship, often between romantic partners or groups
  • noun
  • /ˈbreɪkˌʌp/
translation icon : ruptura
  • You know, maybe you could talk about your breakup?
  • romantic breakup
  • relationship breakup
  • experience a breakup

Or maybe this person is going through a bad breakup or their thyroid is off.

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Examples

  • Do you wanna talk about the breakup with Donald?

  • All Julian knew was that this breakup had been the most painful yet.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Do they take full responsibility for their role in the breakup?

  • So recognize and acknowledge the breakup was necessary.

  • I saw how hard your breakup with Folette was.

  • Your job is to take ownership of your own breakup and you're moving on.

  • In this university student sample, two-thirds of the students had experienced a breakup approximately 3 months previously.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Concerns are widespread about the impact of family breakups on American society.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Adolescents who had experienced parental breakup had a lower age of sexual debut.

    Academic text (2003)
  • After their long relationship ended, she found it difficult to cope with the breakup.

Synonyms

separation
vsbreakup
  • Formal
95 3.7

When married people stop living together but are not divorced

is general relationship ending while this is specifically legal living arrangements
break
vsbreakup
89 3.4

An ending of a relationship or cooperation after disagreement

is used mainly for romantic or group endings rather than any ending
breakdown
vsbreakup
79 4.4

A failure in a system or relationship that stops it working properly

is a planned end of a relationship while this is an unplanned collapse
termination
vsbreakup
  • Formal
56 4.7

The act of ending something, like a job or contract

is the interpersonal process of ending ties rather than formal agreements
severance
vsbreakup
44 6.9

An end to a connection between people or groups

is the wider act of ending without the sharp cutting implication
falling out
vsbreakup
  • Informal
30 4.4

A disagreement that ends or weakens a relationship

is any ending whereas this emphasizes a prior quarrel causing separation
dissolution
vsbreakup
  • Formal
20 6.8

The official ending of a group like a partnership or parliament

is the general process of ending not only formal or institutional cases
clean break
vsbreakup
  • Informal
12 3.9

A complete ending of a relationship or old life to start fresh

is any ending while this stresses total finality and new start
fragmentation
vsbreakup
  • Specialized
9 6.8

When a group or society breaks into smaller parts and loses shared values

is an intentional ending of ties while this stresses gradual breaking into parts
disconnection
vsbreakup
9 4.2

Being separate from people, things, or contact, for example losing internet

is a deliberate ending of ties while this may mean simple loss of contact
rupture
vsbreakup
6 7.1

A serious break between people or groups that causes a lack of trust

is a general ending while this implies higher severity and conflict
breaking away
vsbreakup
5 5.0

An act of leaving a group suddenly to be on your own

is any ending while this emphasizes gaining independence after leaving
breaking off
vsbreakup
5 4.7

A sudden end of an activity, relationship, or talk

is the broader process of ending not only sudden interruptions
detachment
vsbreakup
4 6.1

The act of separating something from the thing it is connected to

is the process of ending relationships not just the state of being apart
splitsville
vsbreakup
  • Slang
3 9.9

The end of a romantic relationship, for example a breakup or divorce

is neutral language while this is informal and playful for romance endings
2 6.1

A time when people or groups separate and go different ways

is the act of ending while this stresses the specific separation moment
divorcement
vsbreakup
  • Archaic
1 6.1

The legal end of a marriage decided by a court

is broader and covers many relationship types beyond legal marital endings
disengagement
vsbreakup
1 6.5

The act of stopping a connection or ending involvement with something

is the act of ending relationships whereas this stresses withdrawal of involvement
dissolution of marriage
vsbreakup
  • Formal
1 5.2

The legal ending of a marriage that a court approves

is any ending of ties whereas this is specifically a legal marital ending
conscious uncoupling
vsbreakup
  • Neologism
1 8.7

Ending a romantic relationship in a calm, friendly way to reduce hurt

is less focused on deliberate friendly endings and more general
disbandment
vsbreakup
1 7.5

Breaking up an organized group like a band or army

is broader and covers relationships beyond organized group dissolutions
disaffiliation
vsbreakup
  • Formal
1 8.0

Ending membership or connection with a group

is about ending relationships generally not only formal membership ties
dissociation
vsbreakup
1 7.8

The act of separating something from a group or connection

is the general act of ending relationships not only removing formal associations
break-off
vsbreakup
4.3

An ending of a relationship or agreement, often sudden

is a general ending not necessarily sudden or abrupt

Antonyms

114 5.3

A return to friendly relations after a disagreement

How Permanent

divorce
963 2.9
breakup
107 3.4
separation
89 2.6
to split
575 2.3
parting
30 3.2

Surface Forms

breakup singular
breakups plural

Morphology

breakup = break + up (transparent) = break + up

Derived from the phrasal verb 'break up' meaning to end a relationship; the noun is a straightforward nominalization of that verb phrase.

Etymology

Breakup comes from break ('to separate') plus up ('completely'), and it is used when a relationship or group ends; a breakup is when people separate and go their own ways.