melt·down
ˈmelt-ˌdau̇n 
1
: the accidental melting of the core of a nuclear reactor
2
: a rapid or disastrous decline or collapse
warning of a stock market meltdown
3
: a breakdown of self-control (as from fatigue or overstimulation)
an exhausted toddler having a meltdown
melted down; melting down; melts down
1
of a nuclear reactor
: to undergo an accidental melting of the core
2
: to experience a very fast collapse or failure
The stock market melted down today.
: to melt (something) so that it can be used for another purpose
melting down gold coins
Synonyms of meltdown
Examples of meltdown in a Sentence
Noun
fears that an accident could cause meltdown
a company experiencing financial meltdown
After a long day at the beach, our toddler had a major meltdown in the car on the way home.
Verb
rather than melt down, the team strengthened their resolve and ended up winning the game
Recent Examples on the Web
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
According to Baéz, sitting still for long periods is hard for little legs, and restless kids may have meltdowns.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Along with encouraging parishioners to pledge money, Cioffi asked them to donate their jewelry, to be melted down and fashioned into a crown to be affixed to a painting of the Virgin on the altarpiece.
—Susan Mulcahy, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meltdown
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Noun
The disaster also triggered a catastrophic failure at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, leading to meltdowns in three reactors and the release of radioactive material in what became the world’s worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
According to Baéz, sitting still for long periods is hard for little legs, and restless kids may have meltdowns.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
The first of the films is Blue Moon, a sweet-and-sour portrait of the lyricist Lorenz Hart (played by Ethan Hawke) melting down at a bar near the tail end of his Broadway career.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Along with encouraging parishioners to pledge money, Cioffi asked them to donate their jewelry, to be melted down and fashioned into a crown to be affixed to a painting of the Virgin on the altarpiece.
—Susan Mulcahy, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meltdown
Cite this Entry
“Meltdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meltdown. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
meltdown
noun
melt·down
ˈmelt-ˌdau̇n
1
: the accidental melting of the core of a nuclear reactor
2
: a rapid or disastrous decline or collapse
a financial meltdown
3
: a breakdown of self-control (as from fatigue or overstimulation)
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