Another Word for Broken: 40 Alternatives for Every Context

A shattered screen, a wrecked car, or a relationship that has fallen apart—there are countless ways to describe something as broken. Finding the right another word for broken can instantly make your writing more vivid, precise, and powerful. A broken phone, damaged chair, cracked window, or malfunctioning machine can all be described in different ways. Finding another word for broken helps you explain exactly what went wrong instead of using the same word repeatedly. For example, “cracked” is more precise for glass, while “malfunctioning” is better for a device that has stopped working properly.

The English language offers many alternatives to the word broken, and each one carries a slightly different meaning. Therefore, choosing the right synonym can make your writing clearer and more natural. This guide covers 40 useful alternatives, including common, formal, informal, and strong words. In addition, you will find meanings, two examples for every synonym, antonyms, a comparison table, usage tips, and answers to common questions. As a result, students, writers, and English learners can quickly find the right word for their context.

What Does “Another Word for Broken” Mean?

Another word for broken is an alternative word or phrase used to describe something that is damaged, cracked, divided, destroyed, or no longer working properly. However, the best alternative depends on what has been damaged and the degree of damage.

Example: The technician found a damaged cable inside the machine.

Pronunciation of “Broken”

Phonetic Spelling: BROH-kuhn

IPA Format: /ˈbroʊ.kən/

Simple Breakdown: BROH + kuhn

The first syllable receives the main stress. Therefore, pronounce “BROH” clearly, followed by the softer “kuhn.”

Syllables of “Broken”

Syllable breakdown: bro-ken

The word broken has two syllables. When saying it slowly, pronounce it as broh-kuhn.

Top 5 Synonyms for Broken

1. Damaged
2. Cracked
3. Shattered
4. Fractured
5. Ruined

Top 5 Antonyms of Broken

1. Whole
2. Intact
3. Functional
4. Working
5. Repaired

Another Word for Broken by Category

Formal Alternatives for Broken

Formal writing requires precise vocabulary. Therefore, words such as damaged, defective, fractured, impaired, compromised, deteriorated, and degraded are useful in academic, technical, and professional contexts.

Informal Words for Broken

Casual conversations often use simpler expressions. For example, busted, beat-up, messed up, wrecked, busted-up, and worn-out can sound natural when speaking informally.

Strong Alternatives for Broken

When the damage is severe, stronger words communicate the situation more effectively. These include shattered, destroyed, demolished, crushed, mangled, ruined, and splintered.

Broken Synonyms Comparison Table

40 Best Synonyms for Broken With Meanings and Examples

1. Damaged

Meaning

Damaged means physically harmed or affected in a way that reduces an object’s condition or usefulness. Therefore, it is one of the most general alternatives to broken.

Examples

• The delivery company replaced the damaged package.
• The mechanic inspected the damaged door.

2. Cracked

Meaning

Cracked describes something that has developed a split or line but has not necessarily separated into pieces.

Examples

• My phone has a cracked screen.
• The cracked window needs to be replaced.

3. Shattered

Meaning

Shattered means broken suddenly or violently into many small pieces. In addition, it can describe extreme emotional distress.

Examples

• The glass shattered when it hit the floor.
• Her confidence was shattered by the criticism.

4. Fractured

Meaning

Fractured means cracked or broken, especially when describing bones, structures, or hard materials.

Examples

• The inspection revealed a fractured support beam.
• The athlete suffered a fractured wrist.

5. Ruined

Meaning

Ruined means damaged so badly that something loses much of its usefulness, value, or quality.

Examples

• The spilled coffee ruined my shirt.
• The heavy rain ruined our picnic.

6. Wrecked

Meaning

Wrecked means severely damaged or destroyed, and it is more common in informal speech.

Examples

• The accident left the car wrecked.
• The storm wrecked several buildings.

7. Destroyed

Meaning

Destroyed means damaged so completely that something can no longer function or exist in its original form.

Examples

• The fire destroyed the old building.
• The flood destroyed several bridges.

8. Defective

Meaning

Defective means having a fault or problem that prevents something from working correctly.

Examples

• The customer returned the defective appliance.
• The company recalled the defective product.

9. Impaired

Meaning

Impaired means weakened, damaged, or reduced in effectiveness or function. Therefore, it is particularly useful in formal writing.

Examples

• The damaged equipment had impaired performance.
• The storm left communication systems impaired.

10. Compromised

Meaning

Compromised means weakened, damaged, or made less effective, secure, or reliable.

Examples

• The damaged wall compromised the building’s stability.
• The security system was compromised during the outage.

11. Deteriorated

Meaning

Deteriorated means gradually becoming worse in condition, quality, or effectiveness.

Examples

• The old road has deteriorated over time.
• The abandoned house deteriorated without maintenance.

12. Busted

Meaning

Busted is an informal American English term meaning broken or no longer functioning.

Examples

• My old television is busted.
• The vending machine is busted again.

13. Defunct

Meaning

Defunct describes something that no longer operates, functions, or exists.

Examples

• The company replaced its defunct website.
• That service is now defunct.

14. Inoperable

Meaning

Inoperable means unable to operate or function properly.

Examples

• The damaged vehicle was declared inoperable.
• The elevator remained inoperable after the power failure.

15. Nonfunctional

Meaning

Nonfunctional means not working or unable to perform its intended purpose.

Examples

• The technician removed the nonfunctional component.
• Several nonfunctional computers were stored away.

16. Ruptured

Meaning

Ruptured means split, burst, or broken open because of pressure, force, or tension.

Examples

• The ruptured pipe flooded the basement.
• Workers replaced the ruptured water line.

17. Splintered

Meaning

Splintered describes wood or another material that has broken into sharp, thin pieces.

Examples

• The wooden door was splintered after the impact.
• The old fence became splintered over time.

18. Smashed

Meaning

Smashed means broken or crushed violently into pieces and is generally informal.

Examples

• Someone smashed the shop window.
• The vase was smashed during the move.

19. Crushed

Meaning

Crushed means damaged by being pressed, squeezed, flattened, or subjected to great force.

Examples

• The empty can was crushed under the machine.
• The front of the vehicle was badly crushed.

20. Demolished

Meaning

Demolished means completely destroyed, particularly when referring to buildings or structures.

Examples

• The unsafe building was demolished.
• Workers demolished the damaged wall.

21. Disintegrated

Meaning

Disintegrated means broken apart into many small pieces or reduced to a fragmented state.

Examples

• The wet paper disintegrated quickly.
• The fragile material disintegrated under pressure.

22. Mangled

Meaning

Mangled means badly damaged, twisted, crushed, or distorted.

Examples

• The accident left the metal frame mangled.
• The bicycle was badly mangled after the collision.

23. Split

Meaning

Split means divided or separated into two or more parts.

Examples

• The wooden board split down the middle.
• The branch split during the storm.

24. Torn

Meaning

Torn means ripped or pulled apart, especially when referring to fabric, paper, or clothing.

Examples

• He wore a torn jacket.
• The letter was torn into pieces.

25. Ripped

Meaning

Ripped means torn apart or damaged by pulling or force.

Examples

• Her backpack was ripped along the seam.
• The curtain was ripped during the move.

26. Battered

Meaning

Battered describes something that has been repeatedly hit, damaged, or heavily worn.

Examples

• He drove an old, battered truck.
• The battered suitcase was still usable.

27. Beat-Up

Meaning

Beat-up is an informal expression describing something old, damaged, or heavily worn.

Examples

• He drives a beat-up car.
• They replaced the beat-up sofa.

28. Worn-Out

Meaning

Worn-out describes something that has become damaged or unusable after prolonged use.

Examples

• My worn-out shoes need replacing.
• The worn-out carpet was removed.

29. Faulty

Meaning

Faulty means having a defect that causes something to work incorrectly.

Examples

• The technician found a faulty wire.
• A faulty switch stopped the machine.

30. Malfunctioning

Meaning

Malfunctioning describes something that is operating incorrectly or failing to perform its intended function.

Examples

• The malfunctioning printer needs repair.
• A malfunctioning sensor triggered the alarm.

31. Disabled

Meaning

Disabled means unable to operate or function, often because something has been switched off or prevented from working.

Examples

• The damaged system was temporarily disabled.
• The update disabled several features.

32. Weakened

Meaning

Weakened means made less strong, stable, effective, or powerful, although it may not be completely broken.

Examples

• The storm weakened the wooden structure.
• Years of use weakened the bridge.

33. Collapsed

Meaning

Collapsed means falling down or losing structural support.

Examples

• Part of the roof collapsed during the storm.
• The damaged wall eventually collapsed.

34. Defaced

Meaning

Defaced means damaged or spoiled on the surface, usually through marks, scratches, paint, or deliberate alteration.

Examples

• Someone defaced the public sign.
• The historic monument was defaced overnight.

35. Mutilated

Meaning

Mutilated means severely damaged, disfigured, or altered beyond its original condition.

Examples

• The document was mutilated beyond recognition.
• The sculpture was badly mutilated.

36. Degraded

Meaning

Degraded means reduced in quality, condition, strength, or performance.

Examples

• The material degraded after years outdoors.
• The image quality degraded after repeated compression.

37. Disrupted

Meaning

Disrupted means interrupted or prevented from operating normally. Therefore, it is especially useful for systems, services, processes, and communication.

Examples

• The storm disrupted transportation services.
• The outage disrupted online operations.

38. Broken-Down

Meaning

Broken-down describes a vehicle or machine that has stopped working because of a mechanical or operational problem.

Examples

• We passed a broken-down car on the highway.
• The broken-down machine was taken for repair.

39. Damaged Beyond Repair

Meaning

Damaged beyond repair describes something so severely harmed that repairing it is no longer practical or possible.

Examples

• The mechanic said the engine was damaged beyond repair.
• The storm left the roof damaged beyond repair.

40. Out of Order

Meaning

Out of order is a common phrase used when a machine, facility, or device is not working properly.

Examples

• The elevator is currently out of order.
• The restroom sign says it is out of order.

When to Use Another Word for Broken

Damaged

Use in: everyday conversations and general writing
Example: The package arrived damaged.

Defective

Use in: product descriptions and professional documents
Example: The customer returned the defective product.

Fractured

Use in: medical, scientific, and engineering writing
Example: The inspection revealed a fractured beam.

Malfunctioning

Use in: technical writing and workplace communication
Example: The malfunctioning machine needs immediate attention.

Wrecked

Use in: casual conversations and informal descriptions
Example: His old bicycle was completely wrecked.

Disrupted

Use in: business, news, and formal writing
Example: The storm disrupted normal operations.

Shattered

Use in: creative writing and severe physical or emotional damage
Example: The glass was shattered across the floor.

Worn-Out

Use in: everyday descriptions of heavily used objects
Example: The worn-out shoes finally needed replacing.

The Final Talk

Don’t let the word “broken” limit your writing—choose the perfect alternative and make every description clearer, sharper, and more impactful. Finding another word for broken allows you to describe damage with greater accuracy and variety. For example, cracked suggests a surface split, while shattered suggests that something has broken into many pieces. Similarly, malfunctioning works best for a device or machine, whereas disrupted is more appropriate for a service, process, or system.

The right synonym depends on the context, severity, and type of damage. Therefore, words such as damaged, defective, fractured, impaired, and degraded are useful for formal writing, while busted, wrecked, and beat-up suit casual language. In addition, stronger choices such as destroyed, demolished, and mangled communicate severe damage. Use this guide whenever you need another word for broken, and you can make your writing more precise, natural, and engaging.

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About the Author

Huma Bakhtiar

I’m Huma Bakhtiar, an SEO expert specializing in building authoritative niche websites, with strong expertise in the synonyms niche. I’m passionate about creating accurate, well-researched, and user-focused content. My mission is to publish trustworthy, high-quality resources that help readers find reliable information with confidence.