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
As the mulch breaks down or becomes unattractive, rake it away before applying a new layer.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
The Daily Money breaks down complex consumer and financial news.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The Swiss treatment center has programs ranging from around $122,000 to $154,000 per week, which breaks down to $17,428 to $22,000 per night.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Her last reporter's notebook from Milan breaks down the pomp and circumstance of the closing ceremony.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 Feb. 2026
However, this predictable behavior breaks down during ultra-high-speed deformation that occurs in mere fractions of a microsecond.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
Selman also shares how the episode pays tribute to the show's legacy and breaks down the Easter eggs throughout the ep.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
The interactive dashboard breaks down how many individuals are being served by initiatives like safe parking lots and the Regional Homeless Assistance Program, which helps residents rent local motel rooms.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
However, grapefruit might raise these anti-infective drug levels by blocking the CYP3A4 liver protein that breaks down these medications.
—Ross Phan, Verywell Health, 9 Feb. 2026
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
The Daily Money breaks down complex consumer and financial news.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The Swiss treatment center has programs ranging from around $122,000 to $154,000 per week, which breaks down to $17,428 to $22,000 per night.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Her last reporter's notebook from Milan breaks down the pomp and circumstance of the closing ceremony.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 Feb. 2026
However, this predictable behavior breaks down during ultra-high-speed deformation that occurs in mere fractions of a microsecond.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
Selman also shares how the episode pays tribute to the show's legacy and breaks down the Easter eggs throughout the ep.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
The interactive dashboard breaks down how many individuals are being served by initiatives like safe parking lots and the Regional Homeless Assistance Program, which helps residents rent local motel rooms.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
However, grapefruit might raise these anti-infective drug levels by blocking the CYP3A4 liver protein that breaks down these medications.
—Ross Phan, Verywell Health, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks down
Verb
-
If sustainability ranks just as high as comfort on your checklist, Earthfoam makes a compelling case.—
Bailey Berg,
Architectural Digest,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Get cool in Helsinki Finland consistently ranks as the happiest country on earth.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another process, thermogenic hydrogen formation, occurs in deep sedimentary basins when organic material decomposes under high temperatures, roughly 480 to 930 degrees Fahrenheit (250 to 500 degrees Celsius).—
Promise Longe,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The clever bit is when these fuels flow through the Draper engine and encounter a catalyst that decomposes the hydrogen peroxide into high-pressure oxygen and steam.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data and creates an article based on a template created by humans.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In just 10 seconds, the AI analyzes the photos and generates a detailed report about hair and scalp, grading you on issues such as temple recession, crown thinning, and more.—
Angela Moscaritolo,
PC Magazine,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
War spreads in the Middle East, a coaching legend dies, and several incumbents face tough primaries.—
Melinda Yao,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
-
There is no way to measure the emotional cost of dealing with what happens after a spouse dies and leaves financial arrangements in a mess.—
Terry Savage,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The snowpack acts as a natural water storage system for California, and ideally when the region’s climate shifts from cold to warm and dry, the snow gradually melts down from rivers and creeks to fill reservoirs over a period of months.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kennedale takes down Van Alstyne Senior guards Jacoby Lovings and Trey Smith scored 14 and 11 points, respectively, as Kennedale defeated Van Alstyne 60-47 in a Class 4A Division II area-round game on Friday at Little Elm Braswell High School.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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The series, based on a novel by Araminta Hall, delves into a crime that shatters a long-standing friendship among the three lead characters.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The glass shatters with a spray that shimmers in the lantern light.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The State Department classifies how safe a place is to travel by assigning an advisory level, from Level 1 to Level 4.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
5 Mar. 2026
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Experts say vaccination is the best way to protect against measles, which the CDC classifies as one of the most contagious infectious diseases.—
Stephen Swanson,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaks down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20down. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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