BROKE DOWN Synonyms: 226 Similar and Opposite Words

broke down

verb

past tense of break down

as in classified

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 decomposed

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 analyzed

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 died

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

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started (up)

as in melted 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 knocked down

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

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as in shattered

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 broke down Some relatives broke down upon seeing the coffins, as a Muslim cleric led funeral prayers under tight security. —

Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026 In 2006, their horse Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby but broke down two weeks later at the Preakness. —

Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 May 2026 The team used two bacterial strains that worked together and completely broke down the material within just six days, without making microplastics. —

Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026 Three others broke down after rendering the guilty verdict. —

Amy Driscoll, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026 With no usable video from the night of the robbery, prosecutors released footage from the night before that showed a museum employee entering the building after his car broke down. —

ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026 One commenter broke down the dog’s couch strategy in football terms. —

Sara Vallone, Charlotte Observer, 26 Apr. 2026 Armed federal agents broke down the door while executing a warrant for someone else, and rounded up the people inside without properly determining whether Juan was a flight risk or a danger to the community, said Lear, his immigration attorney. —

Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026 Cowden broke down each of their initial picks before returning to the warm room. —

Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke down

Verb

Rail freight, a faster and cheaper alternative, was blocked after Zheng’s smart helmets were classified as sensitive dual-use goods, given the active conflict zones along the route.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 May 2026
Uber’s last big ballot fight, on which together with Lyft the company spent $200 million, was a successful campaign to pass a measure that kept gig workers classified as independent contractors, not full-time employees.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2026