nervous breakdown

noun

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

Synonyms of nervous 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
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.
As for this devastated, miserable, freaked out, walking nervous breakdown of a man? Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 25 Nov. 2025 The 1970s were Hollywood’s nervous breakdown. Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025 In 1964, Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown, quit touring, and retreated to the studio, while the rest of the group stayed on the road. David Morgan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2025 Dern played a troubled sales executive who moves back in with her mom after a nervous breakdown at the office. Meriam Bouarrouj, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nervous breakdown

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nervous breakdown was in 1866

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nervous breakdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nervous%20breakdown. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on nervous breakdown

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!