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
Here’s how the top 10 broke down — and what put each state on the list.
—
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
With that, Shaboozey broke down, squeezing the bridge of his nose to suppress tears.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 2 Feb. 2026
Former offensive lineman Randy Cross broke down in tears upon seeing pictures of 49ers teammates who have since passed.
—Daniel Brown, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
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
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
With that, Shaboozey broke down, squeezing the bridge of his nose to suppress tears.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 2 Feb. 2026
Former offensive lineman Randy Cross broke down in tears upon seeing pictures of 49ers teammates who have since passed.
—Daniel Brown, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke down
Verb
-
An equal number of the baby foods in the study were classified as ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), signed by the two countries last week, includes a provision confirming that used clothing and textiles classified under HS 6309 qualify for preferential treatment under the Central America–Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fifty-six days later, homicide investigators arrive at Oliver’s apartment to find an unidentified body—brutally murdered and intentionally decomposed.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The body was decomposed, a fire official said.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Others have analyzed the role of women in that elite world.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Rohan was first, for Rohan Shivakumar, the Yale student who first analyzed it, and Gondor was next, because, well — the beacons were lit!—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As of now, it is known that two people died as a result of this attack.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Feb. 2026
-
One person died Wednesday when a pickup truck crashed in an East County intersection.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Inside the Arts District campus workspace, plastic donations are sorted, shredded and melted down using specialized equipment before being molded into new objects or artwork.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Stolen Louvre loot worth $102 million may be melted down.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The 183 shots he’s knocked down beyond the arc are second in the NBA only to Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, who’s merely two makes ahead of Knueppel.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
While Thursday’s game was tight in the first half, TCU maintained a 61-48 lead entering the fourth quarter after Miles knocked down seven 3-pointers in the third.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even the random animals — birds, deer, dogs, cats and, at one point, a peacock — the director encounters on her journeys around Negev seem to be shattered by years of bombing.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Pim Neill, a 6-year-old girl from Pittsburgh, shattered the Pennsylvania state record by selling more than 81,000 boxes of cookies, the most ever sold in a single season.—
Josh Taylor,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Netflix does not publicly release detailed viewership data, but Treviño said his special ranked among the platform’s top comedy offerings that debuted that year.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
UConn is 22-1, has won 18 in a row, is 7-0 in true road games, ranked third in the nation, and the coach is no longer lamenting a lack of killer instinct, but showing the lack of respect card.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20down. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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