meltdown

1 of 2

noun

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

melt down

2 of 2

verb

melted down; melting down; melts down

intransitive verb

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.

transitive verb

: to melt (something) so that it can be used for another purpose

melting down gold coins

Synonyms of meltdown

Verb

• crack
• fall apart
• lose it
• choke
• flip (out)
• go to pieces
• break down
• wig (out)
• freak (out)
• break up

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

Noun

Following the 2008 housing meltdown, private equity firms such as Blackstone bought thousands of single-family homes at bargain prices and turned them into rentals. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

The state has sent reports of some of these checks to the unclaimed property office, many of them dated from the COVID-19 era, which sent Florida’s unemployment system into meltdown. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2026

Verb

This is Gordo and Tracy sacrificing themselves by running onto the moon’s surface with only duct-tape suits to stop a nuclear reactor from melting down. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2026

The Art Nouveau and Art Deco items taken are said to be made of crystal, gold, and semi-precious stones, and cannot be melted down. — News Desk, Artforum, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1956, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1620, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for meltdown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids 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)