1
as in ranks
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 decomposes
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 analyzes
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 dies
to stop functioning
the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in melts 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 takes down
to take apart
the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in shatters
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 breaks down
Its gentle formula expertly breaks down makeup without leaving my skin feeling dry and tight.
—
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which breaks down complex consumer and financial news.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Plus, Rick Klein breaks down the races from New York City to Virginia to California.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Their new trend report breaks down destinations gaining the most buzz – and a few American getaways cracked the list of international gems.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
The video above breaks down all the factors that have led to the Bears run game getting back on track.
—Robert Mays, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Shortly after, Kate breaks down and apologizes to Hal, begging him to take her back.
—Trish Deitch, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Read on as Entertainment Weekly breaks down those questions and explores the ending of The Woman in Cabin 10.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
Ashley breaks down Micah Parsons' trip to Dallas to reunite with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football and the Giants' decision to start rookie Jaxson Dart over Russell Wilson.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which breaks down complex consumer and financial news.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Plus, Rick Klein breaks down the races from New York City to Virginia to California.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Their new trend report breaks down destinations gaining the most buzz – and a few American getaways cracked the list of international gems.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
The video above breaks down all the factors that have led to the Bears run game getting back on track.
—Robert Mays, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Shortly after, Kate breaks down and apologizes to Hal, begging him to take her back.
—Trish Deitch, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Read on as Entertainment Weekly breaks down those questions and explores the ending of The Woman in Cabin 10.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
Ashley breaks down Micah Parsons' trip to Dallas to reunite with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football and the Giants' decision to start rookie Jaxson Dart over Russell Wilson.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks down
Verb
-
For children, Arizona consistently ranks below the national average for preventive dental visits.—
Sixteen Ramos,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Dallas ranks 31st in both yards and points allowed per game this season.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Return nutrients back to the soil Fallen leaves and other plant debris act as a natural mulch, which slowly decomposes over the winter.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Oct. 2025
-
When leaves fall to the ground, the carbon stays in these leaves, breaks down, and decomposes and releases nutrients back into the soil that plants can take in.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Clinton received roughly 6,000 fewer votes than Obama in the state House district that includes Little Haiti, according to Steve Schale, a Democratic operative in Florida who analyzes election data.—
David Smiley,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Glass Lewis, a proxy advisory firm, analyzes company books and recommends how shareholders should vote on decisions like this.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
It’s estimated that one person dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease in the US.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
When Nora and Agnes’ mother dies, the siblings gather friends and loved ones in the home for a memorial.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Every wildfire that takes down a transmission line, every flood that swallows a road, every heatwave that makes a solar farm falter all slow the very systems meant to replace fossil fuels.—
Natalie Unterstell,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
After the gang successfully takes down Godolkin by embracing supe differences and leaning on their collective power, Polarity ultimately makes the choice to stay behind, charging himself with taking care of the rest of the school’s young supes.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Dousing enemies covered in mud with water shatters their defenses faster than basic attacks, while fire melts ice enemies without issue.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The latest expression that shatters the 140-proof mark comes from Louisville blender Barrell Craft Spirits, and this is one blend of whiskeys finished in Caribbean rum barrels that should be on any whiskey masochist’s bottle list.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The ratings group classifies 17 Republican Senate seats as solid Republican, with only two likely Republican and one as leans Republican.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Aid organizations say the reasoning appears to be used to refer to a wide variety of comments the Israeli government classifies as antisemitic.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While the missile could, in theory, bypass missile defenses, each test risks radioactive fallout if the reactor disintegrates during flight or on impact.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Ethan Hawke stars as Lorenz Hart of legendary songsmiths Rodgers & Hart as the prolific partnership disintegrates to his great dismay.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaks down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20down. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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