Meaning & use
Broaching
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Raising a sensitive or difficult subject for discussion, often carefully or for the first time.
See it in a sentence
She hesitated before broaching the subject of a pay raise with her manager.
He finally broached the topic of retirement during their annual review.
A note on using this word
In a much older sense, 'broaching' meant piercing a cask to draw off liquid, which is the origin of the word's modern figurative meaning of 'opening up' a topic.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
Piercing a cask or container to draw out its contents, or making a hole to release liquid.
The sailors broached the barrel of fresh water as soon as the ship anchored.
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