BREAKS DOWN Synonyms: 220 Similar and Opposite Words

breaks down

verb

present tense third-person singular of break down

as in ranks

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

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Relevance

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as in decomposes

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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as in analyzes

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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as in dies

to stop functioning the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced

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starts (up)

as in melts down

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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as in takes down

to take apart the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived

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as in shatters

to cause to break with violence and much noise firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten

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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 breaks down This action thriller is on pointe with Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Iris Apatow and Avantika as ballerinas whose bus breaks down going to a major competition in Budapest. —

Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026 In real-world conditions, that assumption often breaks down due to damage or interference, leading to major drops in performance. —

Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026 To explain the gap, Martin breaks down labor and materials. —

J.m. Banks march 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026 As the mulch breaks down or becomes unattractive, rake it away before applying a new layer. —

Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026 The Swiss treatment center has programs ranging from around $122,000 to $154,000 per week, which breaks down to $17,428 to $22,000 per night. —

Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026 Her last reporter's notebook from Milan breaks down the pomp and circumstance of the closing ceremony. —

Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 Feb. 2026 Selman also shares how the episode pays tribute to the show's legacy and breaks down the Easter eggs throughout the ep. —

Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026 The interactive dashboard breaks down how many individuals are being served by initiatives like safe parking lots and the Regional Homeless Assistance Program, which helps residents rent local motel rooms. —

Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks down

Verb

But at zero cost and minimal risk for most people, dark showering ranks among the more credible free wellness trends to emerge from social media this cycle.

— Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026
McKinsey’s Miami outpost now ranks as one of its fastest-growing offices in North America—its Miami headcount has grown fourfold to several hundred in the past four years—and Spanish Banco Santander is raising a 41-story tower in the city’s Brickell neighborhood.

— Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026