nervous breakdown
noun
: an attack of mental or emotional disorder especially when of sufficient severity to require hospitalization
Examples of nervous breakdown in a Sentence
She had a nervous breakdown shortly after her sister's death.
He is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Recent Examples on the Web
But the high demands of a relentless industry proved too much and in late December 1964, Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown and stopped touring, becoming a full-time studio artist for the better part of more than a decade after that.
—
Christina Maxouris, CNN Money, 11 June 2025
This looser, more straightforward approach works for the smaller scale and scope of Bottle Rocket, which begins with Luke Wilson’s Anthony leaving a voluntary treatment facility in Arizona after suffering a nervous breakdown.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 30 May 2025
Siegfried remains a mystery to both Dunthorne and the reader until a lucky discovery of a thick file of psychiatric reports from an inpatient stay following what appears to be a nervous breakdown.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
One of my editors used to say that every good book has at least one nervous breakdown in its background.
—Thomas E. Ricks
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervous breakdown
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.
Christina Maxouris, CNN Money, 11 June 2025
This looser, more straightforward approach works for the smaller scale and scope of Bottle Rocket, which begins with Luke Wilson’s Anthony leaving a voluntary treatment facility in Arizona after suffering a nervous breakdown.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 30 May 2025
Siegfried remains a mystery to both Dunthorne and the reader until a lucky discovery of a thick file of psychiatric reports from an inpatient stay following what appears to be a nervous breakdown.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
One of my editors used to say that every good book has at least one nervous breakdown in its background.
—Thomas E. Ricks
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervous breakdown
Cite this Entry
“Nervous breakdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nervous%20breakdown. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share