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
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
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
The Daily Money breaks down complex consumer and financial news.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 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
The latest monthly budget update on the national debt and its interest burden, shared on May 8, breaks down the government’s income and outgoings for the fiscal year so far, which began in October.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 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
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026
The Daily Money breaks down complex consumer and financial news.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 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
The latest monthly budget update on the national debt and its interest burden, shared on May 8, breaks down the government’s income and outgoings for the fiscal year so far, which began in October.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 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
-
Rick Adelman, who ranks 10th in NBA history with 1,042 wins, died on Monday.—
Alejandro Avila,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
-
Quarterback Peter Bourque, who ranks 82nd overall, is the headliner.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Organic material trapped in reservoirs accumulates and decomposes over time, releasing methane — a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to global warming, Fernández-Garrido told CNN.—
Radina Gigova,
CNN Money,
27 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
According to Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute, which collects and analyzes data about insurance, about 15 percent of Florida homeowners do not carry property insurance, compared with a national average of 12 percent.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2026
-
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,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
One was made when filming on location in Puerto Rico for season 1, while the other was only made after the season 2 pickup — not including Carell, whose character Nick dies at the end of the first season.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
-
The job is largely ceremonial unless the governor leaves the state or dies in office.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 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
-
The trio rebuild the tower and Guerrero goes up again, pulling the line for about four minutes more before the group takes down the tower, wheels the cart away from the window and walks away.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The two commit to a duel, each agreeing to fire their guns when a bottle of champagne rolls off the bar and shatters on the floor.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
1 June 2026
-
This type of error creates friction and shatters trust.—
Jerry Haywood,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Folklore, one of her four Album of the Year winners at the Grammys, also manages to settle on the Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts because of how Billboard classifies it.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
To reach customers in an effective way, target marketing considers the differences among customers and classifies them according to their similar needs and preferences.—
Ezgi Eyüboğlu,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaks down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20down. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
