Things break in many waysphysically emotionally mentally or even symbolically. A broken glass a broken heart broken dreams or broken hope all carry different feelings. Similes help us describe broken in a vivid, emotional, and creative way by comparing it to familiar images.
In this article, you’ll 105+ similes for broken each with a clear meaning three example sentences and alternative expressions. Let’s dive in
Similes for Broken (Physical & Emotional)
1. Broken Like Glass
Meaning: Completely shattered or damaged beyond repair.
Examples:
- His trust was broken like glass after the lie.
- The mirror lay broken like glass on the floor.
- Her confidence felt broken like glass under pressure.
Other Ways to Say: Shattered, In pieces
2. Broken Like a Fallen Vase
Meaning: Damaged suddenly and permanently.
Examples:
- Their friendship was broken like a fallen vase.
- One mistake and the plan broke like a fallen vase.
- Her dreams felt broken like a vase on marble.
Other Ways to Say: Ruined, Beyond repair
3. Broken Like a Cracked Mirror
Meaning: Still usable but flawed and damaged.
Examples:
- His smile was broken like a cracked mirror.
- The relationship survived, but broken like a cracked mirror.
- Her reflection felt broken like a cracked mirror.
Other Ways to Say: Flawed, Damaged
4. Broken Like Dry Twigs
Meaning: Easily snapped; weak or fragile.
Examples:
- His bones felt broken like dry twigs.
- The chair legs snapped like dry twigs.
- Her strength broke like dry twigs under stress.
Other Ways to Say: Fragile, Brittle
5. Broken Like a Torn Page
Meaning: Incomplete or missing important parts.
Examples:
- His story felt broken like a torn page.
- Their love was broken like a page ripped from a book.
- My memory is broken like a torn page.
Other Ways to Say: Incomplete, Fragmented
6. Broken Like a Shattered Window
Meaning: Exposed, vulnerable, and damaged.
Examples:
- His heart felt broken like a shattered window.
- The house stood broken like a shattered window.
- Her defenses broke like a shattered window.
Other Ways to Say: Exposed, Vulnerable
7. Broken Like a Snapped Chain
Meaning: Suddenly disconnected or ended.
Examples:
- Their bond broke like a snapped chain.
- Communication broke like a snapped chain.
- His patience broke like a chain under pressure.
Other Ways to Say: Cut off, Severed
8. Broken Like a Wilted Flower
Meaning: Emotionally drained or lifeless.
Examples:
- She looked broken like a wilted flower.
- His spirit felt broken like a flower without water.
- The team stood broken like wilted flowers.
Other Ways to Say: Drained, Defeated
9. Broken Like a Collapsed Bridge
Meaning: Completely unusable; no way forward.
Examples:
- Trust was broken like a collapsed bridge.
- Their future felt broken like a fallen bridge.
- Communication broke like a bridge in a storm.
Other Ways to Say: Destroyed, Cut off
10. Broken Like an Empty Shell
Meaning: Hollow inside; emotionally numb.
Examples:
- After the loss, he felt broken like an empty shell.
- She smiled, but felt broken like a shell.
- The house stood broken like an empty shell.
Other Ways to Say: Hollow, Emotionless
11. Broken Like a Torn Heart
Meaning: Deep emotional pain.
Examples:
- Her heart felt broken like a torn heart.
- He walked away with a heart torn apart.
- Love left him broken like a torn heart.
Other Ways to Say: Heart-shattered, Heart-torn
12. Broken Like a Storm-Ravaged Tree
Meaning: Damaged after enduring hardship.
Examples:
- He stood broken like a storm-ravaged tree.
- Her spirit bent but broke like a storm-hit tree.
- The town felt broken like trees after a storm.
Other Ways to Say: Weathered, Scarred
13. Broken Like a Lost Song
Meaning: Missing joy or harmony.
Examples:
- Life felt broken like a lost song.
- Their laughter sounded like a lost melody.
- His hope was broken like a song never finished.
Other Ways to Say: Joyless, Incomplete
14. Broken Like a Burnt Match
Meaning: Used up; no strength left.
Examples:
- He felt broken like a burnt match.
- Her energy burned out like a match.
- The idea died broken like a burnt match.
Other Ways to Say: Exhausted, Burned out
15. Broken Like a Fallen Crown
Meaning: Loss of power, pride, or dignity.
Examples:
- His pride lay broken like a fallen crown.
- The leader stood broken like a fallen crown.
- Her confidence fell like a crown in dust.
Other Ways to Say: Defeated, Humiliated
16. Broken Like a Jammed Machine
Meaning: Not working as intended.
Examples:
- The system felt broken like a jammed machine.
- His routine broke like a faulty engine.
- Plans stalled, broken like old machinery.
Other Ways to Say: Malfunctioning, Stuck
17. Broken Like a Crushed Can
Meaning: Squashed beyond shape.
Examples:
- His confidence felt broken like a crushed can.
- The car looked broken like a tin can.
- Dreams were crushed like cans underfoot.
Other Ways to Say: Flattened, Crushed
18. Broken Like a Shattered Clock
Meaning: Time feels stopped or useless.
Examples:
- Time felt broken like a shattered clock.
- Their routine broke like a stopped clock.
- Life paused, broken like an old clock.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen, Stalled
19. Broken Like a Torn Net
Meaning: Unable to hold things together.
Examples:
- The plan was broken like a torn net.
- His promises broke like weak threads.
- Trust slipped through like a torn net.
Other Ways to Say: Unreliable, Weak
20. Broken Like Fallen Dominoes
Meaning: One failure causing many others.
Examples:
- Everything collapsed like fallen dominoes.
- His mistakes fell like dominoes.
- The project broke in a domino effect.
Other Ways to Say: Chain failure, Collapse
21. Broken Like a Foggy Mirror
Meaning: Confused or unclear thinking.
Examples:
- His thoughts felt broken like a foggy mirror.
- Her mind was cloudy and broken.
- The memory reflected poorly like foggy glass.
Other Ways to Say: Confused, Clouded
22. Broken Like a Whisper in the Wind
Meaning: Fading or barely existing.
Examples:
- His hope felt broken like a whisper in wind.
- Dreams faded like quiet whispers.
- Her voice sounded broken and thin.
Other Ways to Say: Fading, Weak
23. Broken Like a Tired Candle
Meaning: Slowly burning out.
Examples:
- His energy flickered like a tired candle.
- She felt broken and dim.
- The passion burned low like a candle.
Other Ways to Say: Fading, Exhausted
24. Broken Like a Lost Puzzle Piece
Meaning: Something essential is missing.
Examples:
- Life felt broken like a missing puzzle piece.
- Without her, the family felt incomplete.
- His world lacked a vital piece.
Other Ways to Say: Incomplete, Unfinished
25. Broken Like a Stormy Sky
Meaning: Emotionally heavy or troubled.
Examples:
- His mood was broken like a stormy sky.
- Her thoughts thundered with pain.
- The day felt dark and broken.
Other Ways to Say: Heavy-hearted, Troubled
26. Broken Like a Snapped Pencil
Meaning: Suddenly stopped or useless.
Examples:
- His focus broke like a snapped pencil.
- The plan ended broken like a pencil in half.
- Her patience snapped like a pencil.
Other Ways to Say: Useless, Abruptly ended
27. Broken Like Shattered Ice
Meaning: Sharp, painful, and scattered.
Examples:
- His words felt broken like shattered ice.
- The glass lay broken like ice shards.
- Her trust cracked like frozen ice.
Other Ways to Say: Jagged, Splintered
28. Broken Like a Fallen Statue
Meaning: Once strong, now ruined.
Examples:
- His pride stood broken like a fallen statue.
- The hero looked broken after defeat.
- Dreams fell like statues from pedestals.
Other Ways to Say: Ruined, Toppled
29. Broken Like a Cracked Bell
Meaning: Still works, but not the same.
Examples:
- His laugh sounded broken like a cracked bell.
- The old bell rang broken and dull.
- Her voice echoed like a cracked bell.
Other Ways to Say: Dull, Damaged
30. Broken Like a Silent Drum
Meaning: Lost its rhythm or purpose.
Examples:
- His life felt broken like a silent drum.
- The celebration stopped like a silent drum.
- Hope faded into silence.
Other Ways to Say: Lifeless, Still
31. Broken Like a Burnt-Out Bulb
Meaning: No energy or light left.
Examples:
- He felt broken like a burnt-out bulb.
- Her motivation went dark.
- The room felt empty and dim.
Other Ways to Say: Drained, Exhausted
32. Broken Like a Torn Kite
Meaning: Dreams ruined mid-flight.
Examples:
- His hopes fell like a torn kite.
- The plan crashed in the wind.
- Her ambitions fluttered down.
Other Ways to Say: Crushed dreams, Failed hopes
33. Broken Like a Collapsed Tent
Meaning: Unable to stand or support.
Examples:
- His confidence collapsed like a tent.
- The structure failed overnight.
- Her strength folded under pressure.
Other Ways to Say: Weakened, Fallen
34. Broken Like a Rusted Lock
Meaning: No longer protects or works.
Examples:
- Trust felt broken like a rusted lock.
- The door wouldn’t open anymore.
- His heart stayed locked but broken.
Other Ways to Say: Jammed, Worn out
35. Broken Like a Crumbling Wall
Meaning: Gradually falling apart.
Examples:
- Their relationship broke slowly like a wall.
- His patience crumbled bit by bit.
- The old house leaned weakly.
Other Ways to Say: Decaying, Weakening
36. Broken Like a Lost Compass
Meaning: Directionless or confused.
Examples:
- He felt broken like a lost compass.
- Life had no direction anymore.
- Her goals spun aimlessly.
Other Ways to Say: Directionless, Lost
37. Broken Like a Shattered Plate
Meaning: Completely ruined.
Examples:
- The promise broke like a plate.
- His trust shattered instantly.
- The dish lay in pieces.
Other Ways to Say: Destroyed, In fragments
38. Broken Like a Fallen Ladder
Meaning: Can’t help you rise anymore.
Examples:
- That job was a broken ladder.
- His support system failed him.
- Dreams stopped climbing.
Other Ways to Say: Useless support, Failed help
39. Broken Like a Popped Balloon
Meaning: Sudden disappointment.
Examples:
- His excitement broke like a balloon.
- The joy vanished instantly.
- Her mood dropped fast.
Other Ways to Say: Deflated, Let down
40. Broken Like a Shattered Dream
Meaning: Hope completely destroyed.
Examples:
- His future felt broken like a dream.
- Her goals vanished overnight.
- The vision collapsed.
Other Ways to Say: Hopeless, Crushed
41. Broken Like a Worn Shoe
Meaning: Used too much; tired.
Examples:
- He felt broken like worn shoes.
- The journey exhausted him.
- Her energy was gone.
Other Ways to Say: Worn out, Overused
42. Broken Like a Frozen River
Meaning: Emotionally blocked.
Examples:
- His feelings froze and cracked.
- She couldn’t express herself.
- Love stopped flowing.
Other Ways to Say: Emotionless, Cold
43. Broken Like a Cracked Phone Screen
Meaning: Still usable but damaged.
Examples:
- Their relationship worked—but cracked.
- His confidence had visible cracks.
- Life kept going, damaged.
Other Ways to Say: Partially broken, Flawed
44. Broken Like a Torn Flag
Meaning: Loss of pride or unity.
Examples:
- Team spirit felt torn.
- The group lost its honor.
- Unity fell apart.
Other Ways to Say: Dishonored, Divided
45. Broken Like a Faded Photograph
Meaning: Damaged by time and memory.
Examples:
- Memories felt faded and broken.
- The past blurred slowly.
- Love lost its color.
Other Ways to Say: Faded, Worn
46. Broken Like a Jammed Clock
Meaning: Time feels stuck.
Examples:
- Grief froze time.
- Days stopped moving.
- Healing felt delayed.
Other Ways to Say: Stalled, Frozen
47. Broken Like a Fallen Domino
Meaning: One failure causes many.
Examples:
- Mistakes fell like dominoes.
- One lie ruined everything.
- Chaos followed quickly.
Other Ways to Say: Chain reaction, Collapse
48. Broken Like a Cracked Eggshell
Meaning: Fragile and exposed.
Examples:
- She felt emotionally exposed.
- His strength cracked thinly.
- Confidence leaked out.
Other Ways to Say: Vulnerable, Fragile
49. Broken Like a Lost Anchor
Meaning: No stability or grounding.
Examples:
- He felt unanchored in life.
- Her support disappeared.
- Everything drifted away.
Other Ways to Say: Unstable, Drifting
50. Broken Like a Torn Net
Meaning: Can’t hold things together.
Examples:
- The plan couldn’t hold.
- Trust slipped away.
- Control was lost.
Other Ways to Say: Weak, Ineffective
51. Broken Like a Snuffed Candle
Meaning: Hope ended suddenly.
Examples:
- Hope went out instantly.
- Dreams faded fast.
- Joy disappeared.
Other Ways to Say: Extinguished, Ended
52. Broken Like a Cracked Cup
Meaning: Damaged but still used.
Examples:
- He kept going, cracked.
- Life leaked slowly.
- She survived, imperfect.
Other Ways to Say: Imperfect, Leaking
53. Broken Like a Fallen Nest
Meaning: Lost safety or home.
Examples:
- He felt homeless inside.
- Security vanished.
- Comfort was gone.
Other Ways to Say: Unsafe, Exposed
54. Broken Like a Dried River
Meaning: No emotion or passion left.
Examples:
- Love dried up.
- His heart felt empty.
- Creativity vanished.
Other Ways to Say: Empty, Emotionless
55. Broken Like a Cracked Mask
Meaning: True feelings showing.
Examples:
- His fake smile cracked.
- Emotions leaked out.
- Pretending stopped.
Other Ways to Say: Exposed, Revealed
56. Broken Like a Storm-Wrecked Boat
Meaning: Damaged after hardship.
Examples:
- Life hit hard.
- He survived but broken.
- Strength bent under storms.
Other Ways to Say: Battered, Worn
57. Broken Like a Split Road
Meaning: Forced to change direction.
Examples:
- Life split suddenly.
- Choices divided him.
- Paths changed forever.
Other Ways to Say: Divided, Changed
58. Broken Like a Dropped Watch
Meaning: Time or plans disrupted.
Examples:
- Plans fell apart.
- Timing was ruined.
- Life lost rhythm.
Other Ways to Say: Disrupted, Delayed
59. Broken Like a Cracked Bell Jar
Meaning: Trapped and damaged.
Examples:
- He felt stuck inside pain.
- Emotions suffocated him.
- Pressure broke him.
Other Ways to Say: Suffocated, Trapped
60. Broken Like Ashes in the Wind
Meaning: Completely destroyed and scattered.
Examples:
- Dreams turned to ashes.
- Everything vanished.
- Hope blew away.
Other Ways to Say: Destroyed, Gone forever
Conclusion:
Broken doesn’t always mean destroyed it can mean hurt, cracked tired or incomplete. Using similes helps bring those feelings to life. Instead of simply saying something is broken, you can say it’s broken like glass a wilted flower or a fallen crown making your writing more emotional and memorable.
