Break down
Break down verb - To cause to break with violence and much noise.
Usage example: firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten
Shatter is a synonym for break down in break topic. In some cases you can use "Shatter" instead a verb "Break down", when it comes to topics like demolish, weaken, fall apart.
Shatter
Shatter verb - To cause to break with violence and much noise.
Usage example: shattered the priceless vase in one clumsy fall
Break down is a synonym for shatter in help topic. You can use "Break down" instead a verb "Shatter", if it concerns topics such as weaken.
Nearby Words: shattered, shattering
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
Both terms in one sentence
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Pep Talk Song: "Don't Stop" Why not think about times to come And not about the things that you've done If your life was bad to you Just think what tomorrow will do "Gold Dust Woman" Well, did she make you cry, make you break down, shatter your illusions of love?
Source: Music / Rumours
Cite this Source
Shatter and Break down. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/break_down/shatter
Break down & Shatter. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/break_down/shatter>.
Shatter or Break down. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/break_down/shatter.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "break down" and "shatter" have occurred on timeline