meltdown

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noun melt·down \ˈmelt-ˌdau̇n\

Definition of meltdown

1 : the accidental melting of the core of a nuclear reactor
2 : a rapid or disastrous decline or collapse
3 : a breakdown of self-control (as from fatigue or overstimulation)

See meltdown defined for English-language learners

See meltdown defined for kids

Examples of meltdown in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of meltdown from the Web

Seldom are the banal logistics of child rearing — does Joan risk a trip to the vending machines to avert a hunger meltdown?

— jennifer senior, New York Times, "Hunted at the Zoo in ‘Fierce Kingdom’," 19 July 2017
Arrojo says the style actually first became popular back in 2008, post-economic meltdown, when people wanted to stretch the time between appointments as much as possible.

— rachel nussbaum, Glamour, "This Is the Secret to Making Dark Roots Look Intentional," 17 July 2017
There’s an argument to be made in defense of Wallace-Wells’ meltdown-style writing, however.

— danielle tcholakian, Longreads, "Despair All Ye Who Enter Into the Climate Change Fray," 11 July 2017
TAKEAWAY With Anderson out for at least six weeks, the timing of Guerra's meltdown couldn't be worse for the Brewers.

— todd rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Guerra makes early exit after getting knocked around in Brewers loss," 2 July 2017
The biggest nuclear meltdown in U.S. history occurred in 1979 at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, when large amounts of radioactive coolant escaped into the atmosphere.

— joshua emerson smith, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Why today's Americans have less fear and loathing about nuclear power," 1 July 2017
Yet while the loss of Turner seems to be the bigger problem on the surface, the bullpen’s latest meltdown is far more vexing.

— jon tayler, SI.com, "Losing Trea Turner hurts, but Nationals' bullpen problem is far more worrisome," 30 June 2017
Three former executives from Tokyo Electric Power Co. pleaded not guilty to charges of negligence at the beginning of the only criminal trial related to Japan’s nuclear-plant meltdown six years ago.

— mayumi negishi, WSJ, "Nuclear Plant Chiefs Plead Not Guilty in Fukushima Trial," 30 June 2017
As the Fed noted in releasing the results yesterday, big financial firms have more than doubled that capital cushion in the years since the meltdown.

— tory newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: It’s going to be a good summer for big banks," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'meltdown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of meltdown

1956

MELTDOWN Defined for English Language Learners

meltdown

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noun

Definition of meltdown for English Language Learners

: an accident in which the core of a nuclear reactor melts and releases radiation
: a very fast collapse or failure
: a very fast loss of emotional self-control