broken-down
adjective
bro·ken-down ˈbrō-kən-ˈdau̇n 
: worn-out, debilitated
a broken-down old car
Word History
First Known Use
1727, in the meaning defined above
broken-down 1 of 2
adjective
as in dilapidated
in a bad or weak condition because of being old, not well cared for, etc. A broken-down car was blocking one of the lanes of the road. His body was now broken-down after many years of hard living. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dilapidated
- weak
- weakened
- frail
- decrepit
- disabled
- broken
- soft
- damaged
- feeble
- wrecked
- softened
- debilitated
- run-down
- enfeebled
- wasted
- enervated
- paralyzed
- infirm
- wimpy
- sapped
- languid
- down-and-out
- faint
- unsubstantial
- asthenic
- destroyed
- challenged
- effete
- injured
- tender
- hurt
- invalid
- incapacitated
- prostrate
- slight
- prostrated
- wimpish
- delicate
- low
- impotent
- powerless
- impaired
- lame
- unsound
- harmed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- new
- fresh
- brand-new
- maintained
- sturdy
- robust
- tough
- lusty
- hardy
- healthy
- hard
- kept-up
- powerful
- rugged
- sound
- cared-for
- mighty
- stalwart
- strong
- hale
- stout
- red-blooded
broken down
2 of 2verb
1
as in typed
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
- typed
- distributed
- sorted
- ranked
- distinguished
- referred
- ordered
- classified
- placed
- recognized
- cataloged
- grouped
- separated
- filed
- assorted
- classed
- graded
- identified
- codified
- categorized
- listed
- digested
- pegged
- ranged
- organized
- relegated
- compartmentalized
- drawn up
- compartmented
- indexed
- disposed
- systematized
- screened
- set
- alphabetized
- colligated
- arrayed
- culled
- marshaled
- shelved
- pigeonholed
- clumped
- sifted
- winnowed
- regrouped
- clustered
- marshalled
- reclassified
- catalogued
- sieved
- recategorized
- subcategorized
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mixed (up)
- confused
- scrambled
- jumbled
- lumped
- disarranged
- missorted
- mis-sorted
- misclassified
- mistyped
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
- decomposed
- disintegrated
- decayed
- fallen apart
- corrupted
- run to seed
- rotted
- gone to seed
- molded
- perished
- spoiled
- crumbled
- festered
- rusted
- turned off
- putrefied
- spoilt
- fouled
- contaminated
- moldered
- soured
- polluted
- tainted
- fermented
- deteriorated
- turned
- degenerated
- mortified
- curdled
- defiled
- addled
- dilapidated
- withered
- declined
- descended
- sunk
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- grown
- developed
- aged
- matured
- restored
- ripened
- renewed
- improved
- purified
- integrated
- cleansed
- composed
- assembled
- refreshed
- meliorated
- ameliorated
- bettered
3
as in dissected
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
- dissected
- divided
- analyzed
- cut
- deconstructed
- reduced
- separated
- classified
- assayed
- inspected
- anatomized
- evaluated
- diagnosed
- assessed
- examined
- scrutinized
- investigated
- arranged
- sorted
- assorted
- indexed
- ordered
- tabulated
- categorized
- codified
- subdivided
- segmented
- enumerated
- cataloged
- diagrammed
- schematized
- catalogued
- diagramed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- integrated
- consolidated
- unified
- synthesized
- aggregated
- amalgamated
- assimilated
- coalesced
- agglomerated
- conglomerated
4
as in crashed
to stop functioning the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced Synonyms & Similar Words
- crashed
- cut out
- stalled
- failed
- died
- given out
- broken
- conked (out)
- acted up
- sputtered
- jammed
- fizzled
- wheezed
- malfunctioned
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- started (up)
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
- melted down
- lost it
- fallen apart
- cracked
- flipped (out)
- choked
- broken up
- wigged (out)
- gone to pieces
- freaked (out)
- blown one's cool
- gone off the deep end
6
as in taken down
to take apart the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived Synonyms & Similar Words
- taken down
- knocked down
- disconnected
- dismantled
- disassembled
- dismounted
- dismembered
- demounted
- detached
- struck
- divided
- stricken
- separated
- disengaged
- broken up
- disarticulated
- disjointed
- disaggregated
- dissevered
- disunited
- disjoined
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- built
- constructed
- assembled
- combined
- united
- erected
- pitched
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
- shattered
- smashed
- destroyed
- torn down
- demolished
- fractured
- crashed
- splintered
- fragmented
- wrecked
- split
- ruined
- vaporized
- cracked
- pulverized
- decimated
- wasted
- wracked
- annihilated
- devastated
- desolated
- totaled
- shivered
- busted
- bashed
- crushed
- bust
- crunched
- nuked
- totalled
- snapped