Skip to main content
brokenness

brokenness

6.5
Speech that is not smooth and is hard to follow
  • noun
  • /ˈbroʊkənnəs/
translation icon : fragmentación
  • In her speech, she acknowledged the brokenness in communication that often leads to misunderstandings.

Examples

  • The poet eloquently expressed the brokenness of human existence in his latest work.

  • Before that, it was in the brokenness that really the true beauty was revealed.

  • The report highlighted the brokenness of the education system, revealing gaps that hinder student progress.

Synonyms

disfluency
vsbrokenness
  • Specialized
1 8.9

A break in speaking or writing, such as a pause and repeated words

is broader, meaning fragmentation beyond mere hesitations
disjointedness
vsbrokenness
1 7.7

Lack of clear connection or order that makes something hard to follow

applies to incomplete or rough language rather than just order problems
incoherency
vsbrokenness
1 7.5

A lack of clear, organized speech or writing that makes it hard to follow

is more specific to speech and language fragmentation than general disorder
fragmentariness
vsbrokenness
9.1

A quality of being made of many separate pieces with parts missing

focuses on lack of smooth flow in speech rather than separate parts
disjointed speech
vsbrokenness
7.8

Speech that is hard to follow because the ideas do not connect

covers fragmentation or roughness of language not only logical gaps

Antonyms

16 6.7

Being connected and logical so parts form one whole

5 1.9

An even surface without rough parts

How Broken

ruin
100 3.2
shattering
17 4.2
brokenness
6.5
imperfection
51 3.7

Surface Forms

brokenness singular
brokennesses plural

Morphology

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

The application to speech or language is a metaphorical extension of 'broken' (fragmented), so while derivable, it is a specialized usage learners may not immediately predict.

Etymology

Brokenness comes from broken and the ending -ness, where break means 'to break' or 'to make into pieces' and -ness means 'state'. Think of 'broken English' or short, stopped sentences, so brokenness can mean speech or language that is not smooth and feels in pieces.