melt·down
ˈmelt-ˌdau̇n 
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)
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
AFAR Media, 5 Sep. 2025
The film looks at the key role of political cartoons in global democracies, the decline of the profession amid a newspaper industry meltdown and the effects of extreme political partisanship on media and editorial cartooning.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Naturally, Swiftopia is melting down over the possibility over what this could mean.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meltdown
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Noun
The cancellations left travelers stranded, most notably during the summer of 2022 and the holiday meltdown that same year.
—AFAR Media, 5 Sep. 2025
The film looks at the key role of political cartoons in global democracies, the decline of the profession amid a newspaper industry meltdown and the effects of extreme political partisanship on media and editorial cartooning.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Keegan Akin shut the Red Sox down over two perfect innings, but the home club finally had an opportunity in the eighth after Kade Strowd melted down with two singles and a four-pitch walk to load the bases with nobody out.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Naturally, Swiftopia is melting down over the possibility over what this could mean.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meltdown
Cite this Entry
“Meltdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meltdown. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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)
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