BREAKS DOWN Synonyms: 220 Similar and Opposite Words

breaks down

verb

present tense third-person singular of break down

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

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Relevance

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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

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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

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as in dies

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

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starts (up)

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

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as in takes down

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

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as in shatters

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 breaks down The Daily Money breaks down complex consumer and financial news. —

Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 22 June 2026 Below, Akinnuoye-Agbaje breaks down the climactic episode, explaining why Alamo decides to let Rue kill herself and why Bishop betrays him. —

Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026 Below, Silvera breaks down the Season 2 filming of the Marvel series, the emotional layers of a fight scene, and what to expect in the next season. —

Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 And then, there’s the leader, who breaks down just about every huddle when the team comes off the field and prepares to bat. —

Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 25 May 2026 And after 134,387 steps — which breaks down to about 67 miles — my feet still felt surprisingly fresh, with no aches or sweaty toes. —

Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026 Brisket is a tough, richly marbled cut that only turns tender after hours of low-and-slow cooking, when connective tissue breaks down and fat renders into the meat. —

Paula Disbrowe, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 May 2026 Quince actually breaks down the price for each item on its site, revealing the cost for materials, packaging, freight and handling, duties, taxes and other fees. —

Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 11 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks down

Verb

Today, the resort city consistently ranks as one of the most expensive in Southern California with a median home price of more than $3 million.

— Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
The state also ranks fourth in the nation for childhood poverty and hunger, according to Katie Ruth Camp, the organization's vice president of marketing and public relations.

— Joshua Cole, CBS News, 24 June 2026