break down 1 of 2

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as in to die
to stop functioning the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in to crack
to yield to mental or emotional stress began to break down when he realized that he was on the verge of bankruptcy

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breakdown

2 of 2

noun

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as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances the breakdown of the body was arrested by the embalming process

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of break down
Verb
If your body doesn't make enough lactase, the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar, lactose travels to the colon, where bacterial fermentation occurs. Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 7 Oct. 2025 The ManningCast allows the brothers to break down plays, discuss what’s happening around the NFL and talk with special guests. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
The Cornyn campaign did not provide a breakdown of how much was raised by each account, but most of his fundraising came from joint committees in the filing from three months ago. David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 7 Oct. 2025 The breakdown of security in the Sahel region and the civil war in Sudan, for example, can’t allow economic productivity to thrive. Kingsley Moghalu, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
  • What Happens Next FDA inspectors will classify the recall one of three hazard levels, from the lowest risk, Class III, to the highest, Class I.
    News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Dividing her time between London and Los Angeles, Porras-Kim has historically examined the methods institutions use to classify, conserve, and interpret items in their collections, focusing on objects and forms of knowledge that have been separated from their original contexts.
    News Desk, Artforum, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Mushrooms also thrive in decomposing wood mulch.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
  • These clippings decompose rapidly, enhancing soil quality and providing nutrients for your turf grass.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The study analyzed blood samples from 47 patients with severe ME/CFS and 61 healthy controls, revealing a unique pattern consistently present in patients with the condition.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Behaviours are measured through 360-degree reviews and employee surveys, where data can be broken down by function to analyze the individual impact of leaders.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Coulson, a Miami lawyer, died unexpectedly last month.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Which is interesting, given that Lillard died in the first film.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Resale values on premium EVs are notoriously bad, and with the possible exception of the Rolls-Royce Spectre, nobody has quite cracked the nut on how to build one that could conceivably be considered an heirloom.
    Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Jackson Lacombe and Luke Hughes each just signed long-term extensions with $9 million AAVs — before either one cracked 50 points.
    Max Bultman, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers took down the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-1, in the National League Division Series.
    Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The governor also appeared to have briefly published an ActBlue page announcing her Senate run, but that page has been taken down as well.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Andy Pages, amid a miserable month, shattered his bat while hitting a ground ball back to the pitcher.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Nowhere is this more urgent than in Gaza and Israel, where two years of devastation have left families shattered and entire communities on the brink, on both sides of the divide.
    Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But, of course, the producers didn't want Caroline to have a nervous breakdown.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
  • That character is Mike Tyler (Chris Evans), a Hollywood star recovering from a recent nervous breakdown and attending a garish eco-friendly charity party for the super-super-rich that’s being held in a fantastically austere Greek mine.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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