1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in died
to stop functioning
the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in knocked down
to take apart
the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in shattered
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 broke down
Rory McIlroy, who has played for Team Europe at the Ryder Cup in every tournament from 2010 to 2025, previously broke down the significance of the match-up and how a potential prize fund could change the meaning of the tournament.
—
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
After a hot tag to Adam Copeland, the match broke down into chaos.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
In fact, Elliott nearly missed her performance slot because her tour bus broke down on the highway.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
Galicia Lopez broke down the front door of the residence while the other two men remained outside, prosecutors said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
Brent Lang, Variety‘s executive editor, also broke down the 2025 summer box office haul, reflecting on the underwhelming overall tally for the crucial frame.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Netanyahu initially said Israel would conquer all of Gaza after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal broke down in July.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Skenes then broke down why reliever Evan Sisk picked up his first big league victory by pitching a scoreless seventh before the Pirates took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning when Henry Davis dashed home following a wild pitch.
—Will Graves, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
In the early 2000s, companies rushed into massive ERP implementations—only to abandon them when workflows broke down.
—Erik Greenstein, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
After a hot tag to Adam Copeland, the match broke down into chaos.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
In fact, Elliott nearly missed her performance slot because her tour bus broke down on the highway.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
Galicia Lopez broke down the front door of the residence while the other two men remained outside, prosecutors said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
Brent Lang, Variety‘s executive editor, also broke down the 2025 summer box office haul, reflecting on the underwhelming overall tally for the crucial frame.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Netanyahu initially said Israel would conquer all of Gaza after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal broke down in July.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Skenes then broke down why reliever Evan Sisk picked up his first big league victory by pitching a scoreless seventh before the Pirates took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning when Henry Davis dashed home following a wild pitch.
—Will Graves, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
In the early 2000s, companies rushed into massive ERP implementations—only to abandon them when workflows broke down.
—Erik Greenstein, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke down
Verb
-
These benefits are classified as mandatory spending, which typically continues during a government shutdown since it is funded on a permanent or multi-year basis.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Now classified as a deputy after the Miami-Dade Police Department became the Sheriff’s Office in January, police officer was the top job title last year in county government, with more than 2,400 people holding that position.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The first was that the obstacles were decomposed into cuboids.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Rivas’ cause and manner of death are still being determined by the medical examiner; the exam is taking longer than usual as the remains were severely decomposed.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
UniQure said the team analyzed clinical outcomes for 29 patients treated with AMT-130 (n=17 high dose; n=12 low dose).—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The company analyzed data from each state, including affordability, weather, safety, health care, taxes, entertainment, and demographics.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
He was pronounced unresponsive and later died early on September 23.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Six people died while doing so in 2023, according to The New York Times.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Along the way, narratives of both Bridges and the Little Rock students were largely melted down and resculpted into Civil Rights triumph.—
Andrea Williams,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Sep. 2025
-
An ancient gold bracelet belonging to an Egyptian pharaoh that had disappeared from a museum in Cairo was stolen and later melted down, the country's Interior Ministry said Thursday.—
Charlene Gubash,
NBC news,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But one simply has to appreciate the cruel irony of such a deluxe number being knocked down by a pedestrian bus rather than, say, a Rolls-Royce or a Daimler.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Kolek knocked down nearly 40 percent of his three-point attempts across his final two collegiate campaigns.—
Bobby Krivitsky,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Pine, Colorado — As massive granite outcroppings dotted with evergreen trees jutted skyward from the landscape of Colorado’s Southern Rockies on a warm Tuesday morning, the serenity of bird calls and a babbling creek was shattered by a radio call from a park ranger in distress.—
Andi Babineau,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
-
There’s really never been a performance like the one Joaquin Phoenix gives as Freddie Quell, a Navy vet who emerges from the war shattered and strange but who may have always been that way.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As accolades continue to come Michigan’s way as a popular destination for travelers — a recent USA Today poll ranked Mackinac Island in northern Michigan as the top spot in the nation to visit for fall — the state’s Pure Michigan campaign is airing nationally, touting the Great Lakes State.—
Carol Cain,
Freep.com,
27 Sep. 2025
-
In a separate measure, Florida ranked 30th nationwide for how well student borrowers are able to repay loans.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broke down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20down. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share