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
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
Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Fee schedule For the first 180 days, the fees would be set at zero and are broken down into various categories.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 18 Apr. 2025
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
Bynes' early 2010s breakdown was widely covered in the media and included legal issues, erratic social media posts, and other concerning incidents that ultimately led to her conservatorship.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break down
Verb
Thankfully, Snyder, 49, was willing to break down those cliffhangers and more in a post-finale chat with PEOPLE.
—Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Fee schedule For the first 180 days, the fees would be set at zero and are broken down into various categories.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
The breakdown of Mars’ magnetic field ultimately made the planet inhospitable.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
Bynes' early 2010s breakdown was widely covered in the media and included legal issues, erratic social media posts, and other concerning incidents that ultimately led to her conservatorship.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
-
How Businesses Can Remain Compliant Governance platforms and compliance partners focus on helping any business, from enterprises to startups, to monitor, identify, classify and ensure that AI is built in accordance to the new EU AI Act.—
Jessica Mendoza,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Of the 23 players in the squad that have made 11 or more league appearances this season, nine (almost 40 per cent) can be classified as long-distance internationals.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Clogged Drains On the other hand, a smelly drain that gets frequent use may have a clog or decomposing matter in the pipes.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Over time, mulch materials break down and decompose.—
Maryal Miller Carter,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The research consortium has data from tissue samples that represents a resource the field has never had—and that is yet to be fully analyzed.—
Atul Gawande,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
-
His internet history was equally troubling, according to the Anti-Defamation League, which analyzed screenshots of his gaming accounts that contained Nazi and Hitler references.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The funeral for Pope Francis, who died Monday, will take place Saturday at 4 a.m. ET in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Cincinnati freshman offensive lineman Jeremiah Kelly died unexpectedly at 18 years old on Tuesday.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Short passwords — think six or eight characters — can be cracked in minutes by modern hacking tools.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Her case cracked the door open for other young talent to skip college entirely, but in reality, college soccer is still a key pipeline despite its changing landscape.—
Meg Linehan,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
According to Hulu, June will fight to take down Gilead with Luke and Moira joining the resistance in the final season of the Emmy-winning drama series.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The team was taken down by Miami Northwestern High School in the final of the 4x400 at the Florida Relays in early April.—
Cory Mull,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Public trust has been shattered, and a change was needed so the system can begin to rebuild.—
Kaitlin McCallum,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Tobias is shattered by the negative response, but Gabin’s aggression doesn’t do anything to pull Tobias together.—
Oliver Sava,
Vulture,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The finale, a musical nervous breakdown, illuminates what’s been driving the character all along.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Can’t a girl have a nervous breakdown/trial separation/midlife crisis/death/divorce in peace around here?!—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
22 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share