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
Quanta Magazine, 6 May 2026
Last week, a long-distance train slammed into a commuter train that had stopped near a station just outside the capital of Jakarta, after hitting a taxi that had broken down in the middle of the tracks.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
Click here for a visual breakdown of incidents nationwide.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for break down
Verb
So either something has supercharged the electric field, pushing it past the critical threshold, or some other process must break down the air molecules.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 May 2026
Last week, a long-distance train slammed into a commuter train that had stopped near a station just outside the capital of Jakarta, after hitting a taxi that had broken down in the middle of the tracks.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
Noun
In 2019, your state and mine declared war on climate breakdown by passing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
Click here for a visual breakdown of incidents nationwide.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
-
Such systems as the Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 series, classified as one-way attack (OWA) UAVs, have been exported extensively to proxy groups and state allies.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
-
Rising costs already limit access to higher education for many, and recent federal policies incorrectly classifying nursing as a nonprofessional degree will only further restrict access to financing for nursing school applicants.—
Nicholas A. Giordano,
STAT,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
In November 2019, soil engineer Tim Neiligan, a former FBI chemist, began researching how bodies decompose in soil.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
These microorganisms will decompose the organic carbon chains and release the nutrients.—
Haniya Rae,
Martha Stewart,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
Two tested negative, while the third result was still being analyzed, according to the statement.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
This article was generated by the CA Earthquake Bot, software that analyzes structured information, such as data, and applies it to articles based on templates created by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Alfredrick Hughes, Loyola’s all-time leading scorer who helped the Ramblers end a 16-year NCAA Tournament drought during his All-America senior season, died Friday.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
Game 7 is where tall tales begin and dreams die.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Temperatures may crack the 90s in the interior areas closer to the Central Coast by Sunday but are more likely Monday, according to the weather service.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
-
The case was finally cracked when an ICE DNA swab was entered into the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database, triggering a direct match that led to his swift arrest.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
While Himatsingka had to take down his viral Bournvita clip, following a growing public backlash the company reduced sugar content in its offering, according to local media reports.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
7 May 2026
-
In the opening round, the team took down the Boston Bruins in six games.—
David Troy OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
LaPorta set the rookie tight end record for receptions in 2023 with 86 (the Las Vegas Raiders’ Brock Bowers shattered it a year later with 112).—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
-
If the record pace continues, TDT will raise well over $400 million in the current fiscal year, shattering last year’s mark.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
This happened years before, in such a serious way that my friend had to take a three-month medical leave of absence due to what was likely a nervous breakdown.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
When their news anchor (Peter Finch) has a nervous breakdown on the air, suddenly their ratings turn around, bringing on a moral morass only some of them are prepared to face.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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