divorce 1 of 2

noun

Definition of divorcenext
as in breakup

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Dissimilar Words

divorce

2 of 2

verb

as in to split
to set or force apart in your head you need to divorce your wishes and fantasies from the realities of the world as it is

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word divorce distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of divorce are divide, part, separate, sever, and sunder. While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

When is divide a more appropriate choice than divorce?

The words divide and divorce can be used in similar contexts, but divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

When is it sensible to use part instead of divorce?

While the synonyms part and divorce are close in meaning, part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

When could separate be used to replace divorce?

In some situations, the words separate and divorce are roughly equivalent. However, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

When can sever be used instead of divorce?

The synonyms sever and divorce are sometimes interchangeable, but sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

In what contexts can sunder take the place of divorce?

While in some cases nearly identical to divorce, sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of divorce
Noun
Fans were thus shocked when Jillian filed for divorce in January 2015. — Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 Buteau’s Coco makes off with a bit more meat on the bone, though her messy divorce, complicated relationship with her ex, and profound rage are too often leaned on as our Big! — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
State media has reported cases of officials divorcing to conceal the proceeds of crime. — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026 In the meantime, that house went into foreclosure and her mother had to divorce her father to sell it. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for divorce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divorce
  1. breakup
  2. split
  3. dissolution
  4. separate
  5. alienation
  6. divide
  7. severance
  8. disconnect
Noun
  • Zhou, a West Palm Beach Goldman Sachs analyst, would not leave his former girlfriend alone after their breakup.
    — Matthew T. Christ, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The new study instead places particular emphasis on a continent-scale rift-flank escarpment formed during Rodinia’s breakup.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of breakup
Verb
  • The remaining counts were split between supporting the lifting of the ban and undecided.
    — Brittney Ermon, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • After a few more years of touring, though, the band split primarily so Howard could pursue her solo work.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of split
Noun
  • The dissolution of the ghettos in the eighteenth century could be interpreted as tearing down barriers, but now poverty set in and the wealthy separated from those who formerly shared a similar destiny.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The potential dissolution of the Hapag-ZIM deal follows the collapse of one of the largest and fastest-growing container lines in the world.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of dissolution
Verb
  • This caused the prehistoric Tethys Ocean, which once separated the supercontinents of Laurasia and Gondwana, to shrink.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Only once that foundation is in place does the more surprising part of Friedman's research become relevant—what separates teams that clear this bar from those that merely limp along.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of separate
Noun
  • Nor can it be secured through repression, which amplifies alienation, fuels anger, and breeds broader resentment toward the Pakistani state.
    — Aqil Shah, Time, 17 Aug. 2026
  • With its möbius-strip-esque structure, this surreal social class satire about grief, urban alienation and gentrification in the city of Lagos explores the lost hope of the Nigerian dream.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of alienation
Verb
  • For easier replanting, discard the woody central clump of the plant before dividing.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
  • There will always be a way to divide the teams with a discrepancy below that exact amount.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of divide
Noun
  • Aronson’s lawyers argue that Paramount’s lawyers are misreading an IRS provision that affects the timing of severance payouts.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • According to DePaul’s tax filings, Lenti Ponsetto received a severance payment of $793,262 in the fiscal year 2022.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of severance
Verb
  • Department crews disconnected an eight-inch water main on Wednesday to conduct emergency repairs, resulting in a temporary water outage for the area.
    — CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • How bizarre, off-putting and disconnected from the NFL would that be?
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of disconnect

Browse Nearby Words

divisions
divorce
divorced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Divorce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divorce. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on divorce

Nglish: Translation of divorce for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about divorce

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