1
as in classifying
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 decomposing
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 analyzing
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 dying
to stop functioning
the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in melting down
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 taking down
to take apart
the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in shattering
to cause to break with violence and much noise
firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breaking down
Others are also said to be on the verge of breaking down.
—
Jermont Terry, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Three decades later, this international liberal order is breaking down.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
This is the web version of Fortune Tech, a daily newsletter breaking down the biggest players and stories shaping the future.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
But that instinct is breaking down.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
Influencers are already breaking down the steps of the dance so fellow fans can join in on the fun.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
When breaking down what the heck happened over the last four months, the first item on the list is the way New York’s starting rotation disintegrated.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Suitable for use on double spinner wheels, the rubber covers slip directly onto the exterior of the wheels to prevent them from breaking down on uneven surfaces with the help of thick, durable silicone material.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2025
But in 2025, that script is breaking down.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Jermont Terry, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Three decades later, this international liberal order is breaking down.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
This is the web version of Fortune Tech, a daily newsletter breaking down the biggest players and stories shaping the future.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
But that instinct is breaking down.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
Influencers are already breaking down the steps of the dance so fellow fans can join in on the fun.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
When breaking down what the heck happened over the last four months, the first item on the list is the way New York’s starting rotation disintegrated.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Suitable for use on double spinner wheels, the rubber covers slip directly onto the exterior of the wheels to prevent them from breaking down on uneven surfaces with the help of thick, durable silicone material.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2025
But in 2025, that script is breaking down.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking down
Verb
-
Unlike an image-classifying neural network, a PINN doesn’t learn by studying external data.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Similarly, ride-share services like Uber and Lyft have faced multiple lawsuits for classifying drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, allowing the companies to avoid providing minimum wage, overtime pay and other benefits.—
Lauren Wilson,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For nearly two weeks before embarking on the cross-country road trip, the teenager lived with his parents’ decomposing bodies.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The earthy scent of decomposing leaves and soil contributes to the smell.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By analyzing nearly half a million nearby star systems, the team sought to understand how often planets survive when their host stars swell into red giants.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Related Stories Set to receive the Indie Star Award at Tauron American Film Festival, Philippe has become known for analyzing cinema history in his detailed docs.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
As oblivion approached, with all its attendant possibilities of panic or bitterness, Bowie summoned the generosity to evoke the ordeal of one prematurely dying man while also thinking and creating at the no less vast scale of life itself.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Since the late 1980s, newspapers like the Press and the Post-Gazette have been dying a slow death with loss of circulation and advertising revenue that's all but disappeared since the birth of the internet.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sidestep a financial wrangle if someone is melting down.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Explosions near the site had already damaged a high-voltage power line; Ukraine feared the failure of cooling systems that prevent nuclear fuel from melting down.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Many women with natural hair can empathize with the breakage concerns and tediousness that can arise when taking down protective styles.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The Crimson Tide have won each of their five conference matchups, taking down Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Tennessee and South Carolina in consecutive games.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Yet for all of Malinin’s athleticism and his Beamonesque ability to take flight what has been most telling in what has already been a world record-shattering Olympic season has been the maturity of his skating, the willingness to take emotional risks in his programs.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Bana and Rocha were among the 615 participants in the 27th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge on Thursday at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, shattering the record of 540 set in 2024, and collectively raising more than $20,000 for Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The relationship between the government and police forces has long been characterized by mistrust, but high-ranking officials are aware that the continued future of their institutions are tied up with Chavismo’s survival.—
Rebecca Hanson,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The indictment also names Maduro's son, two high-ranking Venezuelan officials and an alleged leader of the Tren de Aragua gang.—
Elizabeth Rosner,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20down. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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