Quick Answer: Broken means damaged and no longer working or whole. Useful alternatives include damaged, faulty, shattered, defective, and out of order.
You are describing a cracked phone screen in a message and the word broken appears three times in two lines. The meaning is clear, yet the writing feels dull and repetitive. A good broken synonym fixes that in seconds.
The term describes something that has lost its proper shape, function, or condition. A chair can be broken, and so can a promise, a machine, or a heart.
People search for alternatives because the same word starts to wear thin. Students need variety in essays, teachers want clear models, and bloggers aim for natural flow. Picking the right option also makes your meaning more exact.
This guide presents 50 useful choices, each with a short meaning and two examples. A brief quiz and common questions follow so you can practice.
50 Synonyms for Broken
1. Damaged
Short Meaning: Harmed so that it is no longer in good condition.
Example 1: The storm left a damaged roof on the old barn.
Example 2: Return the damaged box to the seller for a refund.
2. Faulty
Short Meaning: Not working correctly because of a flaw.
Example 1: The shop replaced the faulty charger without charge.
Example 2: A faulty sensor caused the alarm to ring all night.
3. Shattered
Short Meaning: Smashed into many small pieces.
Example 1: The shattered glass covered the kitchen floor.
Example 2: Her confidence was shattered after the harsh review.
4. Defective
Short Meaning: Made with a flaw that stops proper use.
Example 1: The factory recalled a defective batch of batteries.
Example 2: The judge ruled that the defective part caused the crash.
5. Out of order
Short Meaning: Not working, often said of machines.
Example 1: The elevator is out of order until Monday.
Example 2: The ticket machine was out of order, so we paid inside.
6. Cracked
Short Meaning: Split but not fully apart.
Example 1: He dropped the mug and left it cracked.
Example 2: A cracked pipe dripped under the sink for days.
7. Fractured
Short Meaning: Broken in a way that shows a clear split.
Example 1: The cyclist suffered a fractured wrist in the fall.
Example 2: Years of arguing left their bond fractured.
8. Smashed
Short Meaning: Hit hard and left in pieces.
Example 1: The vase was smashed during the move.
Example 2: Waves smashed the small boat against the rocks.
9. Crushed
Short Meaning: Pressed so hard that the shape is lost.
Example 1: The crushed can fit easily in his pocket.
Example 2: Hopes of a quick deal were crushed by the vote.
10. Ruined
Short Meaning: Spoiled beyond use or repair.
Example 1: Rain ruined the picnic plans for Saturday.
Example 2: The flood ruined most of the shop’s stock.
11. Wrecked
Short Meaning: Destroyed or badly damaged by force.
Example 1: The wrecked car sat at the edge of the road.
Example 2: The storm wrecked the wooden pier overnight.
12. Destroyed
Short Meaning: Completely ended or torn apart.
Example 1: Fire destroyed the warehouse in under an hour.
Example 2: The rumor destroyed her trust in the team.
13. Demolished
Short Meaning: Knocked down on purpose.
Example 1: Workers demolished the old cinema last spring.
Example 2: His argument was demolished by one simple fact.
14. Crumbling
Short Meaning: Slowly falling apart over time.
Example 1: The crumbling wall needs repair before winter.
Example 2: Public support for the plan was crumbling fast.
15. Dilapidated
Short Meaning: Old and in poor repair.
Example 1: They bought a dilapidated house and restored it.
Example 2: The dilapidated factory stood empty for years.
16. Worn out
Short Meaning: Used so much that it no longer works well.
Example 1: The worn out tires failed the safety check.
Example 2: Her worn out shoes needed a quick replacement.
17. Malfunctioning
Short Meaning: Failing to operate as it should.
Example 1: The malfunctioning printer jammed every page.
Example 2: A malfunctioning valve caused the pressure to drop.
18. Unusable
Short Meaning: Not fit to be used at all.
Example 1: The flooded road became unusable by noon.
Example 2: The keyboard was unusable after the spill.
19. Impaired
Short Meaning: Weakened or reduced in function.
Example 1: Loud noise left him with impaired hearing.
Example 2: Bad lighting impaired the camera’s performance.
20. Disabled
Short Meaning: Switched off or made unable to work.
Example 1: The alarm was disabled during the repair.
Example 2: A disabled vehicle blocked the narrow lane.
21. Kaput
Short Meaning: Informal word for completely finished or dead.
Example 1: My old laptop is kaput after ten years.
Example 2: The party was kaput once the rain started.
22. Busted
Short Meaning: Casual term for damaged or caught.
Example 1: The busted fan needs a new motor.
Example 2: He got busted for skipping the meeting.
23. Done for
Short Meaning: Informal phrase for finished or ruined.
Example 1: Without a charger, the phone is done for.
Example 2: Once the deadline passed, our plan was done for.
24. In pieces
Short Meaning: Separated into parts.
Example 1: The model plane arrived in pieces, so we rebuilt it.
Example 2: Her notes lay in pieces across the floor.
25. In bits
Short Meaning: British phrase for badly damaged or upset.
Example 1: The parcel arrived in bits after the rough trip.
Example 2: He was in bits after hearing the sad news.
26. Fallen apart
Short Meaning: Separated into loose parts.
Example 1: The cheap sandals fell apart within a month.
Example 2: The old book has fallen apart at the spine.
27. Falling to bits
Short Meaning: Coming apart piece by piece.
Example 1: The garden fence is falling to bits.
Example 2: That sofa has been falling to bits for years.
28. Unsound
Short Meaning: Not solid or dependable.
Example 1: Engineers marked the bridge as unsound.
Example 2: The plan rests on unsound assumptions.
29. Unstable
Short Meaning: Likely to shift, fail, or collapse.
Example 1: The ladder felt unstable on the soft ground.
Example 2: The economy grew unstable after the shock.
30. Broken down
Short Meaning: Stopped working completely.
Example 1: The bus broke down on the highway.
Example 2: Their talks broke down after two hours.
31. Defunct
Short Meaning: No longer existing or active.
Example 1: The defunct site still shows old phone numbers.
Example 2: A defunct factory now serves as a studio.
32. Shut
Short Meaning: Closed and not operating.
Example 1: The shop is shut for repairs this week.
Example 2: The road is shut after the landslide.
33. Dead
Short Meaning: No longer active, often said of devices.
Example 1: The battery is dead, so grab the charger.
Example 2: The phone line went dead mid conversation.
34. Faulted
Short Meaning: Having a known weakness or flaw.
Example 1: The report found the faulted design unsafe.
Example 2: A faulted cable caused the outage.
35. Flawed
Short Meaning: Having a mistake or weakness.
Example 1: The study used a flawed method.
Example 2: Her plan was clever but flawed.
36. Compromised
Short Meaning: Weakened or put at risk.
Example 1: Hackers compromised the company’s server.
Example 2: Lack of sleep compromised his focus.
38. Paralysed
Short Meaning: Brought to a stop and unable to move.
Example 1: Heavy snow paralysed traffic in the city.
Example 2: Fear paralysed her before the speech.
39. Immobilised
Short Meaning: Made unable to move or work.
Example 1: The strike immobilised the port for a week.
Example 2: A flat tire immobilised the van on the hill.
40. Shattered dreams
Short Meaning: Hopes that are completely ended.
Example 1: The injury left him with shattered dreams of playing professionally.
Example 2: Her shattered dreams of opening a cafe faded quietly.
41. Heartbroken
Short Meaning: Deeply sad after a loss or betrayal.
Example 1: She was heartbroken when the dog ran away.
Example 2: The fans were heartbroken after the final loss.
42. Devastated
Short Meaning: Overwhelmed by shock or loss.
Example 1: The family was devastated by the sudden news.
Example 2: The town was devastated by the flood.
43. Betrayed
Short Meaning: Let down by someone you trusted.
Example 1: He felt betrayed when his friend shared the secret.
Example 2: The workers felt betrayed by the broken promise.
44. Cheated
Short Meaning: Treated unfairly or tricked.
Example 1: Buyers felt cheated by the misleading ad.
Example 2: She felt cheated out of her share.
45. Dashed
Short Meaning: Suddenly ended, often said of hopes.
Example 1: The rain dashed our hopes of a beach day.
Example 2: A late visa dashed his plans to study abroad.
46. Void
Short Meaning: Not legally valid.
Example 1: The missing signature made the contract void.
Example 2: Any change without notice makes the deal void.
47. Nullified
Short Meaning: Officially cancelled or made invalid.
Example 1: The court nullified the unfair rule.
Example 2: The late submission was nullified by the judges.
48. Overturned
Short Meaning: Reversed by a higher authority.
Example 1: The appeal court overturned the earlier verdict.
Example 2: Public pressure overturned the harsh policy.
49. Torn
Short Meaning: Ripped apart.
Example 1: The torn page was taped back into the book.
Example 2: She felt torn between two good choices.
50. Frayed
Short Meaning: Wearing thin and starting to split.
Example 1: The frayed cable needs replacing today.
Example 2: Their friendship grew frayed after the argument.
Short Quiz
1: What does broken mean in simple terms?
A. Old and valuable
B. Damaged and not working
C. Clean and new
D. Rare and costly
2: Which word best fits: “The ____ kettle sparked and stopped heating”?
A. Heartbroken
B. Faulty
C. Frayed
D. Bona fide
3: Which pair is closest in meaning?
A. Shattered and smashed
B. Torn and unused
C. Void and valid
D. Crumbling and sturdy
4: Which choice sounds most formal in an insurance claim?
A. Kaput
B. Done for
C. Defective
D. In bits
5: A coach says, “Our season is ____ after losing the final.” Which fits best?
A. In pieces
B. Done for
C. Frayed
D. Defunct
Quiz Answers
- B. The word describes something damaged and no longer working or whole.
- B. Faulty means not working correctly because of a flaw, which fits a sparking kettle.
- A. Shattered and smashed both mean broken into pieces.
- C. Defective is the most formal option for an insurance claim.
- B. Done for is an informal phrase meaning finished or ruined, which fits a lost season.
Frequently Asked Questions
1: What is the best synonym for broken?
Damaged is the safest everyday choice because it covers most situations.
2: What is the simple meaning of broken?
It describes something that is no longer whole, working, or in good condition.
3: What is a formal alternative to the term?
Defective suits reports, claims, and product complaints best.
4: Can I use another word for broken when describing promises and plans?
Yes, void fits invalid agreements, while dashed and ruined suit failed plans.
5: What is the opposite of broken?
Intact is the clearest opposite, since it means whole and undamaged.
Conclusion
A carefully picked broken synonym keeps your message clear and stops the writing from sounding tired. The right choice depends on context, tone, and meaning. A repair report needs precise terms, a friendly chat allows casual ones, and a poem may favor emotional language. Readers notice mismatches, so check each word against the situation before you use it.
Careful selection also makes your meaning sharper. Whether you describe a faulty machine, a shattered glass, or a dashed hope, the correct word tells the reader exactly what happened. Choose thoughtfully, and your sentences will stay fresh, accurate, and easy to follow.
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