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
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
This assumption breaks down in a world that shifts in real time.
—Big Think, 4 Mar. 2026
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
When asked to explain the mechanics, Maas offered a clear breakdown.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break down
Verb
Its acidity helps cut through grime, dissolving dirt and breaking down grease and mineral deposits.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
This assumption breaks down in a world that shifts in real time.
—Big Think, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
Seed packets also typically include a breakdown of when to plant by your zone.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
When asked to explain the mechanics, Maas offered a clear breakdown.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
-
The commander in chief has broad authority to personally classify or declassify documents as delegated by proper processes under Executive Order 13526, issued by Obama, said Liza Goitein, senior director of the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Though classified as a software firm, Strategy has effectively transformed itself into a Bitcoin holding vehicle, financing large Bitcoin purchases through debt and equity issuance.—
Mariana Trujillo,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Conversely, if Iran begins decomposing, its launch tempo will slow.—
John Seiler,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Vermicompost is a compost produced by red wiggler worms that like to decompose biowaste, such as food scraps, hygiene products and cotton clothing, recycling them rather than throwing them away.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Engineers analyze the information to confirm that the missile system performs exactly as expected.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
-
While there is little agreement about the addresses, there is broader agreement for a separate section of Senate Bill 325 that would create a new task force that would analyze how to handle large requests for information by using artificial intelligence.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her bank records, which are in the files, showed that Noel received thousands of dollars in cash and Zelle payments in the months before Epstein died.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
-
At least 560,000 corals died within a third of a mile of the dredging, and more probably died as sediment drifted miles away, according to the 2019 study.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the Los Angeles area and a few places around the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost of gas has cracked $5-per-gallon again and is even tipping toward $6 in a few places.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Edwards was shooting 46 percent on long 2-pointers, which cracked the NBA’s top 10 (among qualifying perimeter players) leading into Thursday night’s action.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Utah Mammoth visit the Philadelphia Flyers after the Flyers took down the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in a shootout.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Rosenberg has since taken down the post.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That burst of momentum came in a primary that was already shattering spending records.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The series, based on a novel by Araminta Hall, delves into a crime that shatters a long-standing friendship among the three lead characters.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As for this devastated, miserable, freaked out, walking nervous breakdown of a man?—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
25 Nov. 2025
-
The 1970s were Hollywood’s nervous breakdown.—
Remy Blumenfeld,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
