BREAKING DOWN Synonyms: 224 Similar and Opposite Words

breaking down

verb

present participle of break down

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

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Relevance

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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

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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

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as in dying

to stop functioning the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced

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starting (up)

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

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as in taking down

to take apart the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived

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as in shattering

to cause to break with violence and much noise firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten

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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 breaking down Given that the more direct iteration of the game is leading to teams prioritising different profiles of players to be used in different roles, the task of breaking down blocks has changed somewhat. —

Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 27 May 2026 Jinky appeared stunned — and repeatedly asked whether the money was real before breaking down in tears. —

Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026 Macro thesis Disinflation trade is breaking down Tuesday’s CPI report showed that the inflation shock is no longer just about energy. —

Tony Zhang, CNBC, 13 May 2026 The beads release a lemon-fresh scent while breaking down grease trapped in garbage disposals. —

Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 Water is also essential for breaking down and absorbing nutrients. —

Jillian Kubala, Health, 6 May 2026 The data breaking down the ways some states have had success in providing access to care could also provide local governments with ideas on how to make strides in a moment where health equity advocates are looking away from the federal government for assistance. —

Anil Oza, STAT, 29 Apr. 2026 Many online are reacting to this viral video of a bus driver in Taiwan breaking down in tears during a dispute with a passenger. —

Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026 Along the way, Neuhaus started to see a real-time map of where the nonfiction industry was breaking down across distribution, marketing, and social. —

Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 22 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking down

Verb

The team began sorting through possible origins for this high-energy neutrino particle by acting like cosmic forensic detectives, classifying the detection of the particle as a crime scene and hunting for potential clues that point toward a culprit.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 May 2026
Researchers debuted an inventory for classifying apocalyptic belief, comprising anthropogenic causality, theogenic causality, imminence, personal control, and the question of whether the end is a good or bad thing.

— Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026