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
William Earl, Variety, 14 May 2025
While coconut oil has a high smoke point, overheating it during cooking may break down some nutrients.
—Health, 14 May 2025
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
An advanced breakdown of the scoring, available on the organization’s website, shows the data used in the hospital’s grading came from 2024 or earlier.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for break down
Verb
But now that the movie is out and being discussed, Cesare sat down with Variety once more to break down the twists in his book that made it into the big screen adaptation.
—William Earl, Variety, 14 May 2025
While coconut oil has a high smoke point, overheating it during cooking may break down some nutrients.
—Health, 14 May 2025
Noun
Going deeper into the analysis, Klos also shared on his X account the breakdown of strokes gained by all the LIV Golf players who will be present at the upcoming PGA Championship.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
An advanced breakdown of the scoring, available on the organization’s website, shows the data used in the hospital’s grading came from 2024 or earlier.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
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Our writers picked a few obvious candidates (anytime Lamar Jackson-Patrick Mahomes clash in any year classifies as must-see).—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
-
Based on double-occupancy stateroom bookings, groups typically need to have a minimum of five to eight cabins to be classified as a group.—
Linnea Bailey,
Southern Living,
18 May 2025
Verb
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Communities also found decomposing bodies floating past their homes, leaders said.—
Megan Janetsky,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2025
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Inside the home, authorities found the 70-year-old’s body dismembered and decomposing in 14 plastic bags, police said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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By continuously observing and analyzing these data, these systems generate personalized interventions designed to help users manage times of mental strain.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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The Phillies, like most teams, have high-speed cameras that can help a pitcher analyze finger placement.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Verb
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About 1,600 people get sick and 260 die each year from listeriosis, according to the CDC.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
-
In the early morning on May 25, Grayson died by suicide.—
Mac Engel
May 16,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 May 2025
Verb
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And yet, no brand has cracked the code on making Chinese viral, relevant, and emotionally sticky (like manga did for Japanese or K-pop did for Korean).—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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This offbeat, easygoing ride includes stops to sample tropical fruits (freshly cracked coconut, mangoes, and key limes), facts and sightings of tropical flora, and cruises down side streets showcasing Key West’s diverse residential architecture (Shotgun, Bahamian, and Conch-style).—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
8 May 2025
Verb
-
The Celtics spent the season as the defending champs that everyone wanted to take down.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
-
The show stars Josh Holloway of Lost fame, as Jim Ellis, a getaway driver who ends up helping the first black female FBI Agent, Nina Hayes (Rachel Hilson) to take down a powerful crime syndicate.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Verb
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His family confirmed his identity in a GoFundMe fundraiser, which has so far raised upwards of $35,000 to support his family, shattering its $5,000 goal.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2025
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O’Brien ranks 22nd in NCAA history in career caused turnovers with 160, which shatters Lacey Leigh Hentz’s previous school record of 146.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
10 May 2025
Noun
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Photo: Logan White Rose Byrne is a frightening revelation in this spiraling, hyper-anxious-making story of a mother going through a nervous breakdown.—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2025
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That ethical dodge — congratulating modern progress, ignoring this era’s nervous breakdown — is the basic, political, insensitive reason that contemporary Hollywood cannot create love stories.—
Armond White,
National Review,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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