pushed apart

USAGE SUMMARY

"pushed apart" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when two people, objects, or forces are forced away from each other. For example, "The two armies were pushed apart by the immense force of the explosion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

The girl's mother pushed apart the drapes.

The New Yorker

"They're hearing the sounds of people coming together instead of being pushed apart," he said.

The New York Times

As the narrative flits back and forth across the years, Elizabeth and Edward are drawn together and pushed apart, pushed apart and drawn together, then as now.

The Guardian - Books

Since it was space itself supplying the repulsive force, the more space was created, the harder it pushed apart.

The New York Times - Science

­"Galaxies are being pushed apart by some repulsive force," explains Edmund ­Bertschinger, head of the physics department.

MIT Technology Review

What they didn't know was that the complicated, constantly evolving flow patterns are driven by two competing armies of particles constantly being pulled together and pushed apart.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Instrumental lines pull together and push apart, weaving and tugging in ghostly, exquisite combat.

The Guardian - Music

The sodium attaches to the long, intertwined muscle proteins and causes the proteins to push apart from one another.

The New York Times - Food

Working with Davide Donadio's group at the University of California, Davis, the researchers discovered that this happens because the lithium ions push apart the atoms of the crystal.

Stanford University

Mechanistically, the oxygen atom acts as a minuscule wedge, pushing apart the bridge's carbon atoms and stretching the carbon carbon bond.

Nature

As with inflation, the repulsion is part of space itself: The bigger the universe gets, the more powerfully it pushes apart, resulting in an exponential runaway expansion.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pushed apart" to clearly convey a sense of separation resulting from an external force or pressure. This phrase works well in both literal and figurative contexts.

Common error

Avoid consistently using "pushed apart" in the passive voice, such as "were pushed apart". Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement and flow, for example, use the active voice when appropriate: 'The explosion pushed them apart'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pushed apart" functions as a verb phrase, typically used in the passive voice to describe something or someone being forced away from something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes when things are moved away from each other by some kind of force.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pushed apart" is a versatile verb phrase that describes a state of separation caused by force or pressure. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is grammatically sound. Appearing frequently in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts, it maintains a neutral register, suitable for various writing styles. When considering alternative phrases, options like "separated forcibly" or "torn apart" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Remember to avoid overuse in passive voice to ensure clear and engaging writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

separated forcibly

Directly conveys the act of being separated through force.

split up

Indicates a division into distinct groups or entities after being together.

forced asunder

Emphasizes a forceful separation into distinct parts, highlighting the action's intensity.

torn apart

Emphasizes the violent and emotional nature of the separation.

driven asunder

Similar to 'forced asunder', but suggests an external force causing the separation.

sundered

Implies a complete and irreversible division.

distanced

Highlights the act of creating a gap or space between entities.

estranged

Focuses on the emotional distance and alienation resulting from separation.

moved away from each other

Highlights a gradual distancing or shift in positions.

ruptured

Conveys a sudden and often violent breaking apart.

FAQs

How is "pushed apart" used in a sentence?

The phrase "pushed apart" describes a situation where objects or entities are forced away from each other. For example: "The tectonic plates were "pushed apart" by magma", or "The argument "pushed apart" the formerly close friends".

What are some synonyms for "pushed apart"?

Alternatives to "pushed apart" include "separated forcibly", "torn apart", or "forced asunder". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of force implied.

Is it better to say "pushed apart" or "separated"?

While both "pushed apart" and "separated" indicate a division, "pushed apart" implies a more active and forceful action causing the separation. "Separated" is a more general term. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the force behind the division.

What causes people to be "pushed apart" in relationships?

In relationships, individuals can be "pushed apart" by external factors such as distance, conflicting priorities, or disagreements. Internal issues like lack of communication or unresolved conflicts can also cause people to be "pushed apart".