China Syndrome

noun

: meltdown sense 1

Examples of China Syndrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web His other credits included The China Syndrome (1979), Melvin and Howard (1980), Revenge of the Nerds (1984), The Golden Child (1986), Dead Poets Society (1989), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) and Postcards From the Edge (1990). —

Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2023 Crisis, the latest film from writer-director Nicholas Jarecki, yearns to be a socially conscious thriller laced with moral cynicism and taut suspense in the vein of Silkwood and The China Syndrome. —

Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 26 Feb. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'China Syndrome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from the notion that the molten reactor contents could hypothetically sink through the earth to reach China

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of China Syndrome was in 1970

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“China Syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/China%20Syndrome. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

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