nervous breakdown

noun

: an attack of mental or emotional disorder especially when of sufficient severity to require hospitalization

Synonyms

• breakdown

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

That character is Mike Tyler (Chris Evans), a Hollywood star recovering from a recent nervous breakdown and attending a garish eco-friendly charity party for the super-super-rich that’s being held in a fantastically austere Greek mine. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025

One powerful scene in episode 2 shows Knox having a nervous breakdown when she is taken back to the scene of the crime and asked to open the knife drawer in the kitchen to determine if any are missing in an effort to locate the murder weapon. —Nicole Briese, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025

Originally published in 1961, the novel follows Josephine, a young woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025

Then there was Spark’s nervous breakdown in January 1954. —Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nervous breakdown

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

Kids Definition

nervous breakdown

noun

: an attack of mental or emotional disorder that is severe enough to require hospitalization

Medical Definition

nervous breakdown

noun

: an attack of mental or emotional disorder especially when of sufficient severity to require hospitalization