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
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Recent Examples of broke down
Then applicants came swarming in before catalogs were ready, and adding to the mid-summer madness, Mid-Florida Tech’s presses broke down, delaying catalog printing another week.
—
Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
Several broke down in tears as hours passed with no news from prison authorities, who activists say refuse to confirm even whether specific detainees are being held inside.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026
Talks reportedly broke down due to Meyer's lack of coaching experience in the NIL era.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Combs got emotional and broke down crying when Kim Porter appeared on the screen.
—Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
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
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
Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
Several broke down in tears as hours passed with no news from prison authorities, who activists say refuse to confirm even whether specific detainees are being held inside.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026
Talks reportedly broke down due to Meyer's lack of coaching experience in the NIL era.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Combs got emotional and broke down crying when Kim Porter appeared on the screen.
—Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke down
Verb
-
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends the mountain lions (Puma concolor couguar) in certain regions should be classified as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
None of the documents were classified.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ackerman’s remains were significantly decomposed and partially mummified, according to the autopsy report.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The child's body was decomposed, per the Sheriff's Office.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The President appeared to be referring to footage published by digital news outlet the News Movement and analyzed by BBC News.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The study analyzed destinations across five data points, including the cost of a wellness treatment, the price of healthy food in the area, the fees for a multiday retreat, the cost of a drop-in yoga class, and the rate of local taxi fare.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Shillinglaw says the most powerful stop is the small town of Ypres, where the Last Post Ceremony has been held nearly every night since the end of World War I to honor the men who died on the front lines in Flanders.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Cain died at the scene, and Hayslip died in a hospital a week later.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once it's melted down, the water goes into the sewer system.—
Doug Williams,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Some went into storage or got moved to Civil War cemeteries, and Charlottesville, Virginia, had its statue of Lee melted down.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
How does a now 40-year-old Aubry, who has been knocked down a few times, pick herself back up to show everyone what she’s made of?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Porter knocked down his seventh trey immediately, then jumped a passing lane for a steal and a dunk that tied it at 90.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
She was shattered by thoughts of all the father-and-son moments Carlos and Alessandro had missed — things like girlfriend issues.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Don’t forget Knueppel is already the fastest player to reach 100 made career 3-pointers, establishing the impressive mark 12 games quicker than Utah’s Lauri Markkanen, who held the record until Knueppel shattered it.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Others, including prohibitions on universal vote-by-mail and ranked choice voting -- two voting methods that have proved popular in some states -- would happen immediately.—
LISA MASCARO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
-
After understanding my preferences, recommend 3 content formats ranked by sustainability.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20down. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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