break down 1 of 2
verb
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
- classify
- rank
- group
- type
- distinguish
- separate
- place
- grade
- relegate
- sort
- distribute
- class
- digest
- list
- peg
- range
- categorize
- identify
- draw up
- codify
- recognize
- compartment
- order
- organize
- compartmentalize
- refer
- file
- assort
- catalog
- cull
- dispose
- index
- array
- marshal
- systematize
- alphabetize
- pigeonhole
- catalogue
- cluster
- shelve
- sieve
- clump
- screen
- reclassify
- sift
- marshall
- winnow
- set
- regroup
- colligate
- recategorize
- subcategorize
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mix (up)
- lump
- confuse
- scramble
- jumble
- disarrange
- missort
- misclassify
- mistype
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
- decompose
- decay
- rot
- disintegrate
- fall apart
- run to seed
- mold
- corrupt
- go to seed
- perish
- spoil
- fester
- foul
- turn off
- deteriorate
- molder
- descend
- putrefy
- turn
- sour
- crumble
- rust
- contaminate
- taint
- pollute
- ferment
- defile
- degenerate
- mortify
- addle
- curdle
- decline
- sink
- wither
- dilapidate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- grow
- develop
- mature
- restore
- renew
- age
- ripen
- improve
- refresh
- better
- integrate
- cleanse
- purify
- compose
- assemble
- ameliorate
- meliorate
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
- analyze
- dissect
- diagnose
- examine
- assess
- investigate
- evaluate
- deconstruct
- assay
- cut
- divide
- anatomize
- inspect
- sort
- separate
- scrutinize
- order
- classify
- reduce
- segment
- diagram
- catalog
- codify
- index
- arrange
- catalogue
- enumerate
- tabulate
- schematize
- categorize
- subdivide
- assort
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- integrate
- consolidate
- aggregate
- unify
- conglomerate
- synthesize
- assimilate
- coalesce
- amalgamate
- agglomerate
4
as in to die
to stop functioning the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced Synonyms & Similar Words
- die
- crash
- fail
- cut out
- stall
- break
- give out
- conk (out)
- act up
- malfunction
- wheeze
- fizzle
- sputter
- jam
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- start (up)
5
as in to melt 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
- melt down
- fall apart
- lose it
- crack
- break up
- choke
- wig (out)
- flip (out)
- go to pieces
- freak (out)
- blow one's cool
- go off the deep end
6
as in to take down
to take apart the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived Synonyms & Similar Words
- take down
- knock down
- disconnect
- dismantle
- detach
- strike
- disassemble
- dismount
- dismember
- divide
- demount
- separate
- break up
- disengage
- disaggregate
- disjoint
- disarticulate
- dissever
- disunite
- disjoin
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- build
- construct
- assemble
- combine
- erect
- pitch
- unite
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
- shatter
- smash
- fracture
- destroy
- demolish
- tear down
- fragment
- crash
- split
- splinter
- wreck
- ruin
- total
- waste
- desolate
- crack
- annihilate
- crunch
- bash
- vaporize
- shiver
- snap
- nuke
- crush
- bust
- decimate
- pulverize
- wrack
- devastate
breakdown
2 of 2noun
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
- nervous breakdown
- tailspin
- disturbance
- anxiety
- agitation
- crack-up
- meltdown
- excitability
- freak-out
- apprehension
- disquiet
- perturbation
- nervousness
- frazzle
- alarm
- basket case
- discomposure
- alarum
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tranquility
- composure
- calmness
- coolness
- tranquillity
- serenity
- placidity
- tranquilness
- aplomb
- imperturbability
- sereneness
- self-possession
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
- decomposition
- decay
- fermentation
- disintegration
- spoilage
- putrefaction
- rot
- festering
- crumbling
- corruption
- putrescence
- dissolution
- curdling
- souring
- moldering
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- growth
- maturation
- ripening
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
- analysis
- inspection
- investigation
- assessment
- examination
- deconstruction
- dissection
- evaluation
- anatomy
- assay
- diagnosis
- anatomizing
- classification
- inventory
- categorization
- codification
- tabulation
- scrutiny
- cataloging
- reduction
- arrangement
- segmentation
- assortment
- enumeration
- indexing
- cataloguing
- itemization
- separation
- division
- subdivision
- muster
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- synthesis
- integration
- consolidation
- aggregation
- amalgamation
- unification
- coalescence
- agglomeration
- assimilation
- conglomeration
