broken
When something is broken, it means it's not working anymore because it's been damaged. Imagine a toy that falls and splits into pieces – it's broken. It can also describe something that was supposed to work a certain way but isn't, like a broken washing machine or a broken promise. If a system or plan is broken, it means it's not successful or effective. So, it's about things being damaged, not working, or failing.
When something is broken, it means it's no longer whole or working as it should. Think of a vase that falls and shatters into pieces; it's broken. It can also describe a machine that stops functioning, like a broken computer. In a more abstract sense, a promise can be broken if it's not kept, or a system can be considered broken if it fails to achieve its intended goals, such as a broken justice system. Essentially, it implies damage, malfunction, or a failure to meet expectations.
§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives
The word "broken" is versatile, describing anything from a shattered object to a failed system. However, English offers a rich vocabulary with words that convey more specific nuances of damage, malfunction, or failure. Understanding these alternatives will allow you to choose the most precise word for your academic writing and everyday communication.
§ Physical Damage Alternatives
- Damaged
- This is a general term, similar to "broken," but often implying less severe or less complete destruction. A car can be damaged in an accident without being entirely broken.
The ancient vase was damaged by the earthquake, but not beyond repair.
- Shattered
- This implies breaking into many small pieces, often with force. It's more specific and often more dramatic than "broken."
The glass plate shattered when it hit the floor.
- Cracked
- Indicates a partial break, a line of fracture, rather than a complete separation into parts.
There's a small crack in the windowpane.
- Fractured
- Similar to cracked, often used in medical contexts (e.g., a fractured bone) or to describe a deep, internal break.
The archaeologist carefully examined the fractured pottery fragments.
§ Malfunction or Failure Alternatives
- Dysfunctional
- This is often used for systems, relationships, or organizations that are not operating effectively, even if they aren't completely "broken" in a physical sense. It implies an ongoing problem.
The research highlighted the dysfunctional communication patterns within the team.
- Faulty
- Suggests a defect or flaw that prevents something from working correctly, often implies an inherent design or manufacturing error.
The computer program had a faulty algorithm that led to inaccurate results.
- Inoperative
- Means something is not working or not able to be operated, often due to a malfunction or shutdown. It's more formal than "broken."
The elevator has been inoperative since yesterday's power outage.
- Defective
- Similar to faulty, but often points to a flaw that was present from the time of manufacture or creation, making the item imperfect or unsuitable for its intended purpose.
The company issued a recall for the defective batch of electronics.
§ Systemic or Abstract Failure Alternatives
- Flawed
- Suggests an imperfection or weakness, often in an argument, theory, or character, which prevents it from being perfect or successful.
The proposed solution was flawed due to its unrealistic assumptions.
- Unsound
- Refers to something not based on strong reasoning or evidence, or something in poor condition (e.g., an unsound structure). Often used for arguments, theories, or financial situations.
The committee deemed the financial plan unsound and rejected it.
- Compromised
- Suggests that something has been weakened or made vulnerable, often losing its integrity or ability to function as intended due to external factors or internal weaknesses. Common in security contexts.
The security of the network was compromised after the cyber-attack.
§ When to use "broken"
Use "broken" when you want a general, widely understood term for something that is no longer whole, functioning, or effective. It's appropriate in most informal and many formal contexts, especially when the exact nature of the damage or failure isn't the primary focus, but rather the state of being non-functional or in pieces.
How Formal Is It?
"The antiquated system was fractured by the sudden influx of new regulations, leading to widespread inefficiencies."
"The broken pipeline caused a significant delay in the data processing timeline."
"My old laptop is totally busted; it won't even turn on anymore."
"My toy car had an oopsie and now its wheel is off."
"After the update, the whole operating system got trashed."
Exemples par niveau
The once-bustling economic system was now broken, leaving millions without work or hope.
Refers to a failed system.
Used to describe a non-functioning system.
Her trust, once absolute, was now irrevocably broken after the repeated deceptions.
Refers to a lost emotional state.
Used to describe a state of trust that has been shattered.
The ancient artifact, discovered in fragments, was a broken remnant of a forgotten civilization.
Refers to something damaged into pieces.
Describes something that is in pieces.
Despite numerous attempts, the broken machine remained unresponsive, halting the entire production line.
Refers to a non-functional device.
Used to describe a machine that no longer works.
The diplomat's promise, once a beacon of hope, was now broken, escalating international tensions.
Refers to a failed commitment.
Describes a promise that was not kept.
Analysis of the data revealed a series of broken links, severely compromising the integrity of the research.
Refers to incomplete or disconnected data.
Used to describe fragmented or invalid data connections.
The fragile peace agreement, a result of years of negotiation, was ultimately broken by renewed hostilities.
Refers to a failed agreement.
Describes an agreement that has been violated or ended.
He felt utterly broken after the tragic news, unable to comprehend the immense loss.
Refers to a state of emotional devastation.
Used to describe someone feeling overwhelmed by grief or despair.
Synonymes
Antonymes
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
if it ain't broke, don't fix it
si no está roto, no lo arregles
to be broken in two
estar partido en dos
to be broken beyond repair
estar roto sin posibilidad de reparación
to be left broken-hearted
quedarse con el corazón roto
to have a broken voice
tener la voz quebrada
the spell was broken
el hechizo se rompió
to break the news
dar la noticia
to break a sweat
sudar la gota gorda
to break the ice
romper el hielo
to break even
quedar en tablas
Expressions idiomatiques
"broken heart"
Extreme emotional suffering, especially from the loss of a loved one or a romantic relationship.
After the breakup, she walked around with a broken heart for months.
neutral"broken home"
A family in which the parents are divorced or separated.
Growing up in a broken home presented its own unique challenges.
neutral"broken English"
English that is spoken imperfectly, typically by a non-native speaker.
He tried to communicate his message in broken English, but it was hard to understand.
neutral"broken down"
Of a machine or vehicle, no longer working; in a state of disrepair.
Our car broke down on the highway, and we had to call for a tow.
neutral"broken promise"
A promise that has not been kept.
The politician was criticized for many broken promises during his term.
neutral"broken record"
Someone who repeatedly says the same thing; a phrase that is repeated excessively.
He's like a broken record, always complaining about the same issues.
informal"broken sleep"
Sleep that is interrupted frequently.
Parents of newborns often experience broken sleep.
neutral"broken spirit"
A loss of courage, hope, or self-esteem.
After several setbacks, he had a broken spirit and struggled to find motivation.
neutral"broken trust"
A situation where trust has been betrayed or damaged.
The scandal led to a widespread feeling of broken trust in the institution.
neutral"broken all ties"
To end all communication or relationships with someone or something.
After the argument, she broke all ties with her former business partner.
neutralQuestions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, 'broken' can certainly be used for both physical objects and abstract concepts. For example, you can talk about a broken chair or a broken promise.
While 'broken' implies something is in pieces or no longer works, 'damaged' can be a broader term. Something 'damaged' might still function but just not perfectly, whereas 'broken' usually means it's entirely out of order.
Absolutely! When discussing systems or processes that have failed, you might use words like dysfunctional, flawed, defective, or compromised. In academic contexts, fragmented (for data) or interrupted (for processes) are also good choices.
Yes, 'broken' can be used metaphorically to describe a person who is deeply saddened, emotionally exhausted, or has lost hope, often due to a difficult experience. For example, 'He was broken after the loss of his pet.'
Not necessarily. While something physically broken might be difficult to fix, or a broken promise cannot be undone, many broken things can be repaired. For example, a broken arm can heal, or a broken process can be redesigned.
You could say, 'My phone screen is broken,' or 'The network connection is broken, so I can't access the internet.'
Indeed! Sometimes people use 'broken' humorously to describe something that is just not working correctly or someone who is acting a bit silly. For instance, 'My brain is completely broken this morning!'
The past tense of 'break' is 'broke,' and the past participle is 'broken.' So, 'I broke it,' and 'It is broken.'
Generally, yes. 'Broken' usually implies a negative state of disrepair, malfunction, or failure. However, as mentioned, sometimes it can be used humorously.
Yes, it can. You can say that someone has 'broken' a rule or a law, meaning they have violated or transgressed it. For example, 'The politician broke his campaign promise.'
Teste-toi 42 questions
The toy car is ___.
Something that is broken is damaged and does not work.
My phone fell and now the screen is ___.
If a screen is broken, it means it is damaged and cracked.
The chair is ___, don't sit on it.
A broken chair is not safe to sit on because it is damaged.
I cannot drink water from the ___ cup.
A broken cup usually has a hole or a crack, so it cannot hold water.
The remote control is ___, so the TV does not change channels.
If a remote control is broken, it does not work correctly.
The window is ___ from the ball.
A ball can hit a window and make it broken (shattered or cracked).
My phone fell and now the screen is ___.
The word 'broken' describes something that has been damaged and is no longer working, which fits the context of a fallen phone screen.
The old toy car is ___ so I can't play with it.
If a toy car is no longer usable for play, it is likely 'broken'.
I can't open the door because the lock is ___.
A 'broken' lock would prevent a door from opening.
My favorite mug is ___ after it fell on the floor.
When something falls and is damaged, it is 'broken'.
The chair is ___ so be careful when you sit on it.
A 'broken' chair would be unsafe to sit on.
I need a new pen because mine is ___.
If a pen is no longer working, it is 'broken'.
The storm caused damage.
She felt very sad.
The system isn't working correctly.
Read this aloud:
My phone screen is broken.
Focus: broken
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
He felt broken after losing his job.
Focus: felt broken
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
The chair is broken, so be careful.
Focus: chair is broken
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence describes a damaged phone.
This sentence explains why someone cannot use the chair.
This sentence describes a promise that was not kept.
The old bridge was deemed unsafe after years of neglect, its structure visibly ___.
The context of an unsafe bridge due to neglect implies damage, making 'broken' the most suitable word.
Despite repeated attempts to fix it, the company's communication system remained ___, leading to constant misunderstandings.
If a system leads to constant misunderstandings despite repair attempts, it implies it's not functioning correctly, thus 'broken'.
The politician's promise to reduce taxes was ultimately ___ when the new budget was announced.
If a promise is not kept, it is 'broken'.
In her academic paper, she discussed how the social support systems were ___ due to lack of funding and inadequate policy.
Lack of funding and inadequate policy would cause social structures to fail, hence they are 'broken'.
The anthropologist analyzed the ___ data sets, acknowledging that some information was incomplete or missing.
Incomplete or missing information aligns with the academic context of 'broken' data, which is 'fragmented'.
The experiment's results were unreliable due to a ___ process in the laboratory, causing contamination.
A process causing contamination implies an interruption or failure in the process, making it 'broken'.
This sentence describes a situation where negotiations failed after a long period of issues, aligning with the academic use of 'broken' for failed processes.
This sentence uses 'broken' to refer to a failed system, specifically a data collection system, and 'fragmented' data, which is an academic context for the word.
This sentence illustrates 'broken' in the context of failed social structures, specifically the erosion of trust.
The once-robust supply chain is now utterly _______ by unforeseen global disruptions, leading to widespread shortages and economic instability.
In this context, 'broken' accurately describes a system that is no longer functioning correctly due to damage or disruption.
Despite numerous attempts to reconcile, their relationship was irrevocably _______ after years of unresolved conflicts and betrayals.
'Broken' is used here metaphorically to describe a relationship that has failed and cannot be repaired.
The archaeological team discovered ancient pottery shards, fragmented and _______ into countless pieces, indicating a violent end to the civilization.
Here, 'broken' refers to something damaged into parts, specifically the pottery shards.
The politician's promise to reduce taxes was _______ as soon as the new budget was unveiled, revealing significant increases across the board.
To 'break a promise' means to fail to fulfill it, which fits the context of the politician's actions.
The data collected from the malfunctioning sensors was so _______ that it was virtually useless for accurate analysis, leading to a complete re-evaluation of the methodology.
In an academic context, 'broken' can refer to fragmented or incomplete data, making it unreliable.
The sudden collapse of the financial institution highlighted the deeply _______ mechanisms within the banking system that allowed such risky practices to proliferate unchecked.
This usage refers to a failed or dysfunctional systemic purpose or structure, common in academic discussions of societal issues.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Exemple
The child cried over his broken toy, hoping his father could glue it back together.
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