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broken

broken

1 7.2
Having no money after a big loss
  • adjective
  • /ˈbroʊkən/
translation icon : quebrado
  • The once-grand hotel is now a broken establishment, unable to attract customers due to its neglect.

Examples

  • Certain hardships in life are worth bearing, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are dealing with one now—suddenly, and what should be happily—in adjusting to forward Kevin Love's surprisingly early return from a broken right hand.

    Blog text (10)
  • Many broken families require assistance to rebuild their lives after financial hardship.

  • It's almost as broken as our economy!

    Blog text (17)
  • Growth down, borrowing revised up, the fiscal rules broken on every target they set themselves.

  • But here's the thing, we have done the work to make sure we're dealing with a broken immigration system.

  • Broken families, financial distress, substance abuse by a parent, child abuse, health-related traumas, and death of a family member are all situations that will have a pronounced effect on a student's ability to function at school.

    Academic text (1991)
  • After years of poor management, the company was a broken business, struggling to pay its debts.

Synonyms

broke
vsbroken
  • Informal
237 1.8

Having no money

is a more serious ruin state indicating complete financial unsoundness
bankrupt
vsbroken
151 4.2

Not able to pay debts

is a broader description of severe financial ruin without legal status
impoverished
vsbroken
50 6.2

People or places that have very little money and few things they need

is focused on severe ruin and loss not general poverty
wiped out
vsbroken
  • Informal
39 7.1

A person who has lost all their money and savings

is the enduring state of financial unsoundness rather than total loss
penniless
vsbroken
24 4.3

Having no money

is a worse condition of full financial ruin rather than merely lacking funds
troubled
vsbroken
  • Specialized
18 4.8

A company, bank, or market with very serious money problems

is actual severe ruin rather than an earlier risky difficulty
distressed
vsbroken
  • Specialized
9 4.1

Having serious money problems and unable to pay bills

is more extreme meaning full financial ruin rather than trouble
broke-ass
vsbroken
  • Offensive
2 9.9

Very poor and having almost no money

is the formal severe ruin idea rather than informal intensified poverty
stone-broke
vsbroken
  • Informal
1 8.6

Having no money at all

is about deep financial ruin and loss rather than simple pennilessness
stony-broke
vsbroken
  • Informal
1 9.3

With no money at all

is the broader severe ruin sense involving heavy loss beyond lack of money
insolvent
vsbroken
  • Specialized
7.2

A person who cannot pay their debts because they have too little money

is the general failed financial condition rather than just payment inability

Antonyms

83 4.1

Doing well and having a lot of money

15 5.5

Having enough money to pay debts and bills

Idioms

To keep saying the same complaint again and again until people get annoyed

Made into many small pieces so it cannot be fixed

Act carefully to avoid causing trouble in a tense, painful situation

Compounds

64 3.4

Deep sadness and pain you feel after losing or being rejected by someone you love

24 4.4

In very poor condition and not working because of age or neglect

15 3.0

A family where the parents do not live together and children often have problems

broken record
  • Offensive
14 4.9

A person who keeps saying the same thing until others get annoyed

8 5.2

An animal trained to let people ride or touch it

1 4.1

A loss of confidence in someone because they lie or break promises

A person who feels deeply hurt and cannot cope

broken arch
  • Specialized
8.1

An arch with a gap at the top often filled with decorations

8.4

A person who is very hurt inside and finds it hard to trust others

Broken Britain
  • Literature
7.5

A way to describe serious social and economic problems in the United Kingdom

broken vessel
  • Specialized
3.8

A tube that carries blood that has burst and caused bleeding

9.9

A long-lasting lung problem in a horse that makes breathing out hard

An animal or person with a badly damaged backbone that makes moving painful

broken-backed
  • Specialized
9.6

A ship or structure so badly damaged that it sags in the middle

broken-field
  • Jargon
7.4

Movement by a player using quick, sudden direction changes to avoid other players

How Broke

ruined
1 3.1
bankrupt
151 4.2
broken
1 7.2
broke
  • Informal
237 1.8

Surface Forms

broken positive

Morphology

broken = break (semi-transparent) = break + en

Morphologically regular but the financial sense (bankrupt/ruined) is a figurative extension that may not be directly predictable from the verb without context.

Etymology

Broken comes from break, which can mean 'to ruin' or 'destroy'. So if someone or a business is broken they have lost their money and are in bad shape.