as in to crack
to yield to mental or emotional stress
rather than melt down, the team strengthened their resolve and ended up winning the game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in tailspin
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in collapse
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of melt down
Matthew Jackson,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
The wedding — and especially Cassie and Nate’s dance, as Cassie melts down on the day she’s spent her life dreaming of, having learned about the deep financial hole Nate is in — must have felt especially layered.
—
Daniel D'addario,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Alejandro Avila Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
In the wake of the financial collapse of 2007-08, Greenspan drew scrutiny for decisions that some critics believe set the stage for the meltdown.
—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for melt down
Verb
The trick, then, is to melt down in a way that’s not just entertaining to an audience but deeply relatable.
—
Matthew Jackson,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
The wedding — and especially Cassie and Nate’s dance, as Cassie melts down on the day she’s spent her life dreaming of, having learned about the deep financial hole Nate is in — must have felt especially layered.
—
Daniel D'addario,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Noun
Cameras later caught Cunningham laughing as Bonner's meltdown escalated, and both players were hit with technical fouls.
—
Alejandro Avila Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
In the wake of the financial collapse of 2007-08, Greenspan drew scrutiny for decisions that some critics believe set the stage for the meltdown.
—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for melt down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melt down
Verb
-
Dua Lipa just wants to get the world to crack open a book.
-
Three of those have cracked the top 10.
Noun
-
Heck, even chores like grocery shopping and filling up on gas are enough to send me into a tailspin after looking at the bill.
-
That is, until a conversation about having children throws their relationship into a tailspin.
Noun
-
Some even spent the night outdoors, fearing further collapses.
-
That puts the whole system at risk for collapse, said Aaron Weiss, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities.
Verb
-
The campaign has choked Russian fuel supplies and military deliveries, stalling Russia's efforts on the battlefield, Western officials and analysts say, and heaped pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
-
Remove chokes from artichokes and steam in small amount of water for 15 minutes, adding water to pan as needed.
Noun
-
Much of the freak-out was fed by polls supposedly showing Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco atop the field.
-
The episode was almost entirely about Margo and her continued freak-out.
Noun
-
Given the scale of the disaster, specialized teams from the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Spain, and other countries began mobilizing toward Venezuela in coordination with local authorities and the United Nations.
-
It was declared a disaster zone and militarized on Thursday.
Verb
-
In the video, with over 10 million views, Savoie spends several minutes breaking down the soccer star’s collection.
-
After 90-plus minutes of frustration and failure to break down cagey South Africa at SoFi Stadium, Canada made history in an instant when Alistair Johnston’s long pass into the box was cleared directly into the path of Eustáquio.
Noun
-
Some people in Caracas and surrounding areas suffered nervous breakdowns following the events of Wednesday afternoon, compounded by warnings that their homes might collapse.
-
Decades later, some of the biggest criticisms of Communion are arguably among its most charming virtues, from Walken's idiosyncratic performance as a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown to the cheesy special effects.
Cite this Entry
“Melt down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melt%20down. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
