1
as in to classify
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 to decompose
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 to analyze
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 to die
to stop functioning
the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to crack
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 to take down
to take apart
the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to shatter
to cause to break with violence and much noise
firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in nervous breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse
if you don't ease your workload, you're going to have a breakdown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the breakdown of the body was arrested by the embalming process
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in analysis
the separation and identification of the parts of a whole
the boss wanted a detailed breakdown of the sales figures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of break down
Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Seabourn, as well as its partners, has set a goal to significantly reduce single-use plastics and food waste by installing biodigesters that use an aerobic digestion process to break down food and reduce overall waste.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Emma Specter, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
See a breakdown of Morris’ first recruiting class at Oklahoma State below.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break down
Verb
Related Stories Variety breaks down the pros and cons facing each contender because in a season this competitive, the smallest advantage could decide who hears their name called on Oscar night.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Seabourn, as well as its partners, has set a goal to significantly reduce single-use plastics and food waste by installing biodigesters that use an aerobic digestion process to break down food and reduce overall waste.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
The 2026 Winter Olympics will kick off on Friday, February 6, and run through Sunday, February 22; a full schedule and breakdown of events by time can be found here.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
See a breakdown of Morris’ first recruiting class at Oklahoma State below.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
-
The case is the first time the Justice Department has attempted to classify critical speech from prominent Trump detractors as a crime.—
Jeremy Roebuck,
Washington Post,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Commercial prediction markets have resisted efforts by states to classify and regulate them as gambling companies, insisting that they — like their precursor in Iowa — should be overseen by federal regulators.—
Suzy Khimm,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Funk assures that the softened, decomposing cardboard will allow plants to grow through.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Jon Hallford, a southern Colorado funeral home owner who stashed nearly 200 decomposing bodies and gave families fake ashes, was sentenced on state charges on Friday.—
Maria Braganini,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Detectives are canvassing the neighborhood, reviewing surveillance footage and analyzing digital data, including cellphone information, according to Arizona police.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
-
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Brad Arnold, the 47-year-old cofounder and lead singer of the Mississippi rock band 3 Doors Down, died Saturday, nine months after revealing a diagnosis of kidney cancer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The company's founder and namesake, Walt Disney, had died in December 1966, but his presence still loomed large over a studio that was seemingly second-guessing its every move.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even for those films that did crack the best British film list, though, the recognition can feel tokenistic.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But soon her story begins to crack.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Pentagon had undertaken extensive planning on the use of military technology near Fort Bliss, a military base that abuts the El Paso International Airport, to practice taking down drones.—
Jennifer Jacobs,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
During the Biden Administration in 2022, a new federal flagpole was installed at the site and the Pride flag that has since been taken down was officially raised on it.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Mom reached Dad on the telephone in the White House pantry to commiserate over the earth-shattering news, Dad’s response was disbelieving.—
John Wrory Ficklin,
Time,
11 Feb. 2026
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But there are no predictions of record-shattering win totals this time – even as the Dodgers head into the season as favorites to three-peat.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As for this devastated, miserable, freaked out, walking nervous breakdown of a man?—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
25 Nov. 2025
-
The 1970s were Hollywood’s nervous breakdown.—
Remy Blumenfeld,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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