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
The wasps build their nests by breaking down plant and wood fibers to form a papery substance.
—
Patricia S York, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
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
Patricia S York, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
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
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
Verb
-
Photos and a video Aiello provided show bladed wire snaking around the decomposing animal’s neck and curved horns, as well as the front legs, in a desert landscape dotted with boulders.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
The park’s namesake Pinnacles are technically the remains of a decomposing Miocene volcano.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Researchers analyzing ancient cuneiform tablets recently unveiled a 4,000-year-old beer receipt — offering a rare glimpse into Mesopotamian beer culture.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
-
The job will become less and less transactional and more and more strategic in problem-solving, forecasting, analyzing problems, and identifying opportunities to optimize.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Far from being a dying way of life, as many people think, the Amish population is growing rapidly — doubling roughly every 20 years.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
3 June 2026
-
Their mother, whom Jerry has been looking after, is dying, and there are medical bills that need to be straightened out.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
What beef tallow is and how it’s made Beef tallow is a white, shelf-stable cooking fat made by rendering — or melting down — the fatty tissue that surrounds a cow’s organs, according to Michelle Crouch at AARP.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
-
Practice non-reaction This can feel counterintuitive, but sometimes the best strategy is to take a pause and not immediately react or intervene when your child is melting down.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Among the most controversial aspects of the foundation’s plans — and part of what inspired a lawsuit — were taking down old-growth trees on the site in Jackson Park.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2026
-
Roberts opened up the space by taking down office partitions in the roughly 1,500-square-foot store, 3941 Park Drive, Suite 80.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Those strikes heavily damaged the bases, burying most tunnel entrances under mountains of debris and shattering roads leading to the sites.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
As the pattern settled in, summer heat finally arrived across the northern tier, shattering nearly 50 records, with temperatures up to 20 degrees above average, Fox Weather reported.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The Lebanese army said several of its soldiers, including a high-ranking officer, were killed in an Israeli strike.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
Olivia Dean Scores the Highest Return The highest-ranking returning favorite on this week's Streaming Songs chart comes from Olivia Dean.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20down. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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