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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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
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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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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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of break down
PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Kingdom was the club spot and Mohawk was a definite must-hit for the Drums, but saw Destroy Boys drop last minute because their bus broke down on the road.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Nov. 2024
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
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—USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break down 
Verb
In the Library and Adjustment modes, the panel breaks down further into two tabs: Project and Metadata for the first and Manual and Presets for the second.
—PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Kingdom was the club spot and Mohawk was a definite must-hit for the Drums, but saw Destroy Boys drop last minute because their bus broke down on the road.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Nov. 2024
Noun
The breakdown of glycine and leucine, the two amino acids added to the blood, were deemed responsible for as much as 60% of the bat’s total energy production during the run.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
Massachusetts Presidential Election Results Massachusetts U.S. Senate Election Results
See our complete Massachusetts U.S. Senate Election Results, including county-by-county maps and breakdowns:
Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team.
—USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
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The Trust is classified as a 'grantor trust' for United States federal income tax purposes, meaning the Trust itself is not subject to federal income tax.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
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Due to this, certain states can be classified as battleground states or swing states, meaning that they can be won by either presidential candidate.Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Straw wattles are made from biodegradable materials and can be left in place to decompose over time, while contour logs or large tree branches offer a more natural-looking solution for rustic landscapes.Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
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If done correctly, leaving your leaves on the ground to decompose has environmental benefits, experts say.Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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For its 2025-2026 Best Places to Live rankings, the publication analyzed 150 cities in the U.S. based on quality of life, job market, value of living and desire to live in the area.Cailey Gleeson, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
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The Golden Source Just as other areas of the business use business intelligence tools, CISOs need ways to analyze data and deliver actionable information that helps guide business decisions.Jonathan Gill, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The organization, created in 2002 after four students at a Jefferson County high school died by suicide in a nine-month period, is branching out beyond the Front Range.Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
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Monk likely died long before deputies checked for his pulse, the lawsuit claimed.Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But if anyone’s going to crack this case for real, the safe money’s on Houlihan, the eagle-eyed 25-year-old detective who seems to be the only one with a gut instinct worth following.Caroline Framke, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
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If not, there will be another opportunity to crack the puzzle tomorrow.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The current probability of the benchmark rate being taken down by another 25 basis points at the December meeting is 78%.Natasha Turak,Matt Clinch, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
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Daryl has the unpleasant task of taking down two people who aren’t hallucinating: Angus and Fiona, the Scottish couple, who turn on Daryl to take the gas masks and save themselves.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As the menace escalates, her parents dismiss her fears, and Annie is soon plunged into a terrifying nightmare that shatters her world.Zac Ntim, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024
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The resulting encounter, in which his vulnerability and her deceits are laid bare, provides a quietly shattering climax.Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The Gutierrez brothers grew up in a low-income house with an alcoholic father who frequently beat both his sons and his wife, who at one point was hospitalized after a nervous breakdown, according to Diane Mosnik, a clinical neuropsychologist who evaluated Gutierrez in 2019.Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 16 July 2024
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Set in 1960s Italy, Sally Bishop (Monroe) and her husband travel to a remote villa in the wake of Sally’s nervous breakdown.Zac Ntim, Deadline, 30 Oct. 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 26 Nov. 2024.
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