breach; break through; smash
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to breach; to burst (of water breaking through a bank or dam)
Used literally to describe water forces breaking through embankments or levees. Often used in news reporting about floods.
The surging river breached the dam, causing widespread flooding.
This ancient embankment has been breached by floods many times.
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Once the breach occurs, the floodwaters will rush down with an unstoppable force.
verb
to break through; to smash (through restraints or restrictions)
literaryUsed metaphorically to describe overcoming limitations, breaking free from constraints, or shattering old frameworks. Common in literary or political contexts.
New ideas smashed through the net of old concepts.
The tide of reform broke through the institutional barriers hindering development.
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The younger generation longs to break through the shackles of family and pursue their own dreams.