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
Meg Anderson, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
After entering the list of top ten NASCAR drivers who have won the most Cup races, Hamlin broke down in his car.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
The breakdown of the relationship coincided with Gage’s borderline personality disorder diagnosis.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break down
Verb
In late September, federal officers broke down doors and arrested dozens of people during a massive apartment raid on Chicago's south side.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
After entering the list of top ten NASCAR drivers who have won the most Cup races, Hamlin broke down in his car.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
If the Broncos clean up a few breakdowns, this is a blowout.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
The breakdown of the relationship coincided with Gage’s borderline personality disorder diagnosis.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 11 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
-
Scientists are advancing the use of muon scattering tomography to analyze nuclear fuel debris from the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Barry regularly meets with economists from major banks to analyze data and metrics related to consumer health and then translates those insights into action.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
15 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
-
Schmitt suffers a nervous breakdown after his arrogance (and Webber’s long leash on the residency program) leads to him killing a podcaster on the operating table and these two break up again.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Oct. 2025
-
But, of course, the producers didn't want Caroline to have a nervous breakdown.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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