nervous breakdown
noun
: an attack of mental or emotional disorder especially when of sufficient severity to require hospitalization
Examples of nervous breakdown in a Sentence
She had a nervous breakdown shortly after her sister's death.
He is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lane is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
—
Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Boy Brian Wilson’s attempts to complete the album Smile in the aftermath of a nervous breakdown while dealing with schizophrenia.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Fawlty Towers established Scales' role as a TV darling; the actress starred as the wife of Basil Fawlty (played by John Cleese), a rude hotel manager who forever appeared to be on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Schmitt suffers a nervous breakdown after his arrogance (and Webber’s long leash on the residency program) leads to him killing a podcaster on the operating table and these two break up again.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervous breakdown
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Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Boy Brian Wilson’s attempts to complete the album Smile in the aftermath of a nervous breakdown while dealing with schizophrenia.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Fawlty Towers established Scales' role as a TV darling; the actress starred as the wife of Basil Fawlty (played by John Cleese), a rude hotel manager who forever appeared to be on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Schmitt suffers a nervous breakdown after his arrogance (and Webber’s long leash on the residency program) leads to him killing a podcaster on the operating table and these two break up again.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervous breakdown
Cite this Entry
“Nervous breakdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nervous%20breakdown. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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