1
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
when presented with the pile of files, the first thing he did was to break them down by month, order within the month, and region
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decompose
to go through decomposition
the enamel of a human tooth will begin to break down when exposed to sugar for too long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to analyze
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships
if we break the problem down into what appear to be three aspects of it, we'll have a better chance of solving it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to die
to stop functioning
the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to take down
to take apart
the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to shatter
to cause to break with violence and much noise
firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in nervous breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse
if you don't ease your workload, you're going to have a breakdown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in analysis
the separation and identification of the parts of a whole
the boss wanted a detailed breakdown of the sales figures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of break down
Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 5 Aug. 2025
The bill breaks down into three tiers with the levels of development allowed in proximity to heavy trail transit, high-frequency transit and major transit stops.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2025
Below, a full breakdown of the very human dialogue including a statement from Shen and one from the writers.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for break down
Verb
For 009 of Mic Drops and Elbow Drops, Fat Joe reflects on the golden memory of WrestleMania 15, breaks down Jelly Roll’s in-ring debut and recounts the time Hulk Hogan bodyslammed a studio engineer mid-session.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 5 Aug. 2025
The bill breaks down into three tiers with the levels of development allowed in proximity to heavy trail transit, high-frequency transit and major transit stops.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
That is a somewhat extreme example, but here is a look at the postseason pitching breakdown the past three seasons.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2025
Below, a full breakdown of the very human dialogue including a statement from Shen and one from the writers.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
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The lockbox is fireproof and waterproof and Underwriters Laboratory (UL) classified.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
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The best way to protect yourself from poor air quality is to stay indoors, especially when the Air Quality Index reaches above 101, which is classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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His family confirmed his death to PEOPLE and in a social media statement on Saturday, Aug. 9, one day after a decomposing body was discovered near the area where the teenager was last seen.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
10 Aug. 2025
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However, the man’s face was badly decomposed and his identification by the city medical examiner is still pending.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Pew Research Center used government records to analyze what states would be impacted back when Trump first floated this idea, and found California, Florida and Texas would each have one less seat than they would have been awarded based on population change alone.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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This nonfiction account from the Pulitzer-prize winning writer analyzes 21st century autocratic states worldwide, and how democracies can best organize underneath them.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Superstore star Jon Miyahara, who played Brett on all six seasons of the NBC comedy, has died at 83.—
Lauren Huff Published,
EW.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Local police reported one person had died and five injured with stab wounds.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When the car is parked, leaving the windows cracked can let some air in help beat the heat.—
Keenan Thompson,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
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Some highlights: Security researchers figured out how to crack eight brands of electronic safes using two different techniques, both exposing significant vulnerabilities, Wired reports.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Over the last few years,ACE has successfully taken down a number of piracy platforms including streaming providers Openload, 123movies.la and Streamango, pirate IPTV service Beast IPTV, the streaming site, and what was the world's largest anime piracy site, Zoro.to.—
Emma Woollacott,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Here's what to expect the week of launch: Aug. 15, 2025: The current website will be taken down and no further data will be able to be input as of that time.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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What is there to say when our souls have been shattered day after day, week after week, year after year?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
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But true evil transcends death…As Gwen begins to receive calls in her dreams from the black phone and experience disturbing visions, her determination to solve the mystery will lead her and Finn to a snowed-in winter camp and a shattering discovery about the Grabber and their own family’s history.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Her father, Edwin, was a lawyer with a dangerous relationship with booze, and her mother, also named Amelia but called Amy, was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
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But the high demands of a relentless industry proved too much and in late December 1964, Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown and stopped touring, becoming a full-time studio artist for the better part of more than a decade after that.—
Christina Maxouris,
CNN Money,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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