# broken man

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/broken-man
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- He became a broken man after losing his family.
- After the company went bankrupt and he lost his life savings, he was a broken man who struggled to find hope.
- The veteran returned from the war a broken man, unable to reconcile the horrors he witnessed with the quiet life he once knew.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.