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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 9 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 During ketosis, the body breaks down fat into ketones and uses them for fuel. —

Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 12 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks down

Verb

Though Disneyland Park’s littler and much younger sibling, the park has grown into a respectable offering, one that ranks among my favorite Disney parks in North America.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Open Doors, which tracks Christian persecution, ranks Iran among the top 10 most dangerous countries for Christians.

— Juliana Kim, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026