The term 'broke the rules' can be summarized by two crossword solutions: CHEATED (7 letters) and FLOUTED (7 letters). Cheating is an act of dishonesty, where someone goes against the rules or regulations in order to gain an advantage. Flouting is a more general term, which means to openly disregard or disobey the rules. Both terms imply that someone has gone against the accepted standards of behavior, and have broken the rules.