English Reference
Idiom idiom

broken man


A man who has suffered significant and enduring emotional pain as a result of a highly unpleasant or traumatic event.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He became a broken man after losing his family.

CONTEXTUAL

After the company went bankrupt and he lost his life savings, he was a broken man who struggled to find hope.

COMPLEX

The veteran returned from the war a broken man, unable to reconcile the horrors he witnessed with the quiet life he once knew.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all bedlam breaks loose

    The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.

  2. 02

    all hell breaks loose

    The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.

  3. 03

    be a man

    To put up with something or take responsibility for it; to deal with something, such as pain or misfortune, without complaining.

  4. 04

    be one's own man

    To behave independently without the influence of others.

  5. 05

    be the bigger man

    To walk away from a conflict to prevent it from escalating.

  6. 06

    big break

    A breakthrough, especially the first big hit of a previously unknown performer or performers in the entertainment industry.

  7. 07

    boldly go where no man has gone before

    To break new ground.

  8. 08

    break a leg

    Good luck!; Do your best!; Said to someone wishing they perform well in a theatrical production or comparable endeavor.

Last updated August 10, 2026