sunder

verb sun·der \ˈsən-dər\

: to split apart (an organization, two people, etc.) especially in a violent way

sun·deredsun·der·ing \-d(ə-)riŋ\

Full Definition of SUNDER

transitive verb

: to break apart or in two : separate by or as if by violence or by intervening time or space

intransitive verb

: to become parted, disunited, or severed

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Origin of SUNDER

Middle English, from Old English gesundrian, syndrian; akin to Old High German suntarōn to sunder, Old English sundor apart, Latin sine without, Sanskrit sanutar away

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SUNDER

Synonyms: break up, decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, sever, split, separate, uncouple, unlink, unyoke

Antonyms: join, link, unify, unite

Synonym Discussion of SUNDER

separate, part, divide, sever, sunder, divorce mean to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed. 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>. part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association <vowed never to part>. divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking <civil war divided the nation>. sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member <a severed limb>. sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart <a city sundered by racial conflict>. divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together <cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility>.

Rhymes with SUNDER

Bandar, blunder, funder, plunder, thunder, under, wonder

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