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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to die
to stop functioning
the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced
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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
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6
as in to take down
to take apart
the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived
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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
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1
as in nervous breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse
if you don't ease your workload, you're going to have a breakdown
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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
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3
as in analysis
the separation and identification of the parts of a whole
the boss wanted a detailed breakdown of the sales figures
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of break down
Kilty Cleary, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
The texture and the beads break down during application to create a calming, cooling effect.
—Allure, 26 Dec. 2024
Hannah Peart, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024
Glynis Johns plays the blonde in question, who seeks help for a car breakdown at an estate lorded over by the imposing Caligari.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break down 
Verb
Callum Wilson will look to continue his fine form and will be a crucial part of breaking down Villa's backline.
—Kilty Cleary, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
The texture and the beads break down during application to create a calming, cooling effect.
—Allure, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
There is a fundamental issue that there’s been a breakdown of trust here.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024
Glynis Johns plays the blonde in question, who seeks help for a car breakdown at an estate lorded over by the imposing Caligari.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
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Some portions of the state are classified as being in an extreme drought.Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
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For the moment, it’s classified as a technology stock.Bob Pisani, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Once discarded, 66 percent of these textiles are sent to landfills to decompose (some quickly, others over hundreds of years).Andre Claudio, WWD, 18 Dec. 2024
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She had been buried there for quite some time, Hardee says, adding that her remains had been decomposed when they were found.Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office brushed off a CalMatters estimate that the state’s homeless population grew to nearly 186,000, telling The Center Square the organization’s reporting was based on incomplete data that analyzed only 32 of the state’s 58 counties.Kenneth Schrupp | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Dec. 2024
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The silver lining of analyzing the most expensive disasters allows scientists and emergency managers to learn from them, Smith added.Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 28 Dec. 2024
Verb
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After a brief illness, Shyer died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to the Hollywood Reporter.Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
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At least 62 people — 37 women and 25 men — had died in the fire, the agency said at first.Kim Tong-Hyung, New York Daily News, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
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He’s now collected eight total smashes that have cracked that uppermost tier throughout his solo career, and that number doesn’t include his output as one-seventh of BTS.Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
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Another new Nashville restaurant nearly cracked the top 10: Gannons Nashville (170 Fourth Ave. N.), which came in at No. 12.Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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According to federal laws, the military can only take down drones by military bases if the drones exhibit a clear threat, and spying isn’t one, the Journal notes.Stephen Pastis, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
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Public support around Mangione has erupted on social media and has included GoFundMe fundraisers, which have been taken down.Brittney Melton, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The sequel, released over Thanksgiving weekend, has shattered box office records and has already raked in $750 million internationally.Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
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The inaugural season of the Jamie Chadwick Series wrapped up with a resounding success, shattering records and opening new doors for young girls in the world of motorsport.Jenn Nelson, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Noun
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For some, watching Adams’ Mother on the verge of a nervous breakdown may trigger PTSD.David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
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The entire affair smelled like a quasi-constitutional coup attempt authored by a desperate head of state whose intensive bickering with the National Assembly over everything from budgets to investigations had induced a nervous breakdown.Daniel R. DePetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near break down
Cite this Entry
“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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