broken engagement
Cancelled marriage plans
A broken engagement is a formal agreement to marry that has been called off before the wedding.
The phrase emphasizes the rupture—something that was whole has been damaged: She returned the ring after the broken engagement.
Unlike simply ending a relationship, a broken engagement carries weight because public commitment was involved.
- called offStopped before happening
- jiltedAbruptly rejected romantically
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
- ringClosed curve shape
- betrayalBreaking of trust
left at the altar · tears · promise · vows · rejection · cold feet · second thoughts · cancelled · shattered · disappointment · return · letters · silence · scandal · dowry · family honor · shame · gossip
- breakupsbreakup, dumped, dumping, it's over, Dear John
- wedding tropesarranged marriage, elopement, runaway bride, shotgun wedding, marriage of convenience
- romancelove story, amor, love, boyfriend, courting
- betrayalbackstab, betray, betrayal, traitor, backstabber
- tragic romanceRomeo and Juliet, Tristan and Isolde, Wuthering Heights, doomed lovers, star-crossed
- Literary Weddingswedding, bride, groom, betrothal, marriage vows
broken engagementwedding
Marriage rite and feast
marriage · wedding day · happily married · tying the knot · matrimony
broken, breaking, broke, unbroken, breakage, breaker, breakers, engagement, engage