Synonym Chooser

How is the word analyze distinct from other similar verbs?

The words break down and dissect are common synonyms of analyze. While all three words mean "to divide a complex whole into its parts or elements," analyze suggests separating or distinguishing the component parts of something (such as a substance, a process, a situation) so as to discover its true nature or inner relationships.

analyzed the collected data

In what contexts can break down take the place of analyze?

The meanings of break down and analyze largely overlap; however, break down implies a reducing to simpler parts or divisions.

break down the budget

When is it sensible to use dissect instead of analyze?

In some situations, the words dissect and analyze are roughly equivalent. However, dissect suggests a searching analysis by laying bare parts or pieces for individual scrutiny.

commentators dissected every word of the speech

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 analyze In traditional robots, a control system analyzes sensory data and tells the machine what to do. New Atlas, 29 June 2025 Meanwhile, data analyzed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicates that approximately only one in every 13.7 million passenger boardings is at risk of being in an accident (and this includes non-fatal incidents). Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2025 Get out of the way, nerds, some of us cool kids are trying to analyze decades-old YouTube sports clips. Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 20 June 2025 Create a system to analyze triggers and leverage them for self-development. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for analyze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for analyze
Verb
  • From their looks to the culture to the music, fans have been dissecting the film and its characters for any signs of real-life K-pop inspirations.
    Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The hard part is dissecting a legend without soiling a mystery.
    Christopher Borrelli, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • And don’t forget to examine your nails and the bottoms of your feet, Reid says.
    Stacey Colino, Time, 9 July 2025
  • There are two approaches to this: comprehend the historical odds and position yourself ahead of the earnings release, or examine the correlation between immediate and medium-term returns post-earnings and position yourself accordingly after the earnings are announced.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • At the end of her first unschooling year, Bogart took a step back from her kids to assess their progress.
    Taylor Grothe, Parents, 9 July 2025
  • The police chief also said the public should not be worried about their privacy, with the department having already assessed such concerns in previous uses of drones.
    Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Though there’s been plenty of research on the most effective training frequency and set volume, few studies have investigated how people should actually divide up their activity into different workouts, said lead study author Jacob Remmert, a PhD candidate at Florida Atlantic University.
    Brian Mastroianni, Health, 9 July 2025
  • Through two studies, researchers investigated whether activating different time perspectives could impact people’s confidence and follow-through on personal goals.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Five Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service teams conducted comprehensive on-site assessments in Mexico this month to evaluate containment efforts.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • Following an owners meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, in February, Manfred said MLB would be evaluating the interpretation of federal law.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The only sign of emotion from him at sentencing came when the judge mentioned one of his daughters, who was in the process of being diagnosed with a life-changing medical condition.
    Simon Hughes, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • The film’s superstitious heroine, AP (Sriram), is having her fortune told by a psychic in flowing robes and a matching huge headpiece (a delicious cameo from Big Freedia), who diagnoses the curse and the $1,000 solution to reverse it.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 11 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Analyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/analyze. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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