as in to crack
to yield to mental or emotional stress
rather than melt down, the team strengthened their resolve and ended up winning the game
Synonyms & Similar Words
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1
as in tailspin
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in collapse
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of melt down
Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2026
The shorter the line, the less likely there will be a melt down (and melt downs mean having to spend precious time decompressing someplace quiet, or possibly having to end the entire excursion early and going back to the hotel).
—Priscilla Blossom, Parents, 2 Jan. 2026
Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
After Thursday's meltdown, ServiceNow trades at just under 28 times forward earnings.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for melt down
Verb
Sidestep a financial wrangle if someone is melting down.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2026
The shorter the line, the less likely there will be a melt down (and melt downs mean having to spend precious time decompressing someplace quiet, or possibly having to end the entire excursion early and going back to the hotel).
—Priscilla Blossom, Parents, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
What's behind the metals meltdown?
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
After Thursday's meltdown, ServiceNow trades at just under 28 times forward earnings.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for melt down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melt down
Verb
-
The idea, from the very beginning, was to ease viewers into a new day with amiable hosts who covered the news, cracked jokes and fit right into viewers’ at-home routines.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The walkway is cracked and the color of (somewhat) pink Peeps.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This immediately sends Kenya into a tailspin that, on some level, is unfair.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2026
-
But once people started reemerging into the world to once again hit the gym and ride their bikes outdoors, the company began to struggle, a tailspin that has been ongoing ever since.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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His exit was immediate; he has been replaced by the mayor pro tem, just as Sawyer replaced Nail before the collapse of the police force, and the council will decide whether to hold a special election later this month.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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Three years before the balcony collapse that severely injured 10 people, the condo's property manager hired engineers and contractors.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This time, Carr’s freak-out was an attempt to stretch the FCC’s equal-time rules to apply to talk shows — both late night and daytime.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
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For now, though, Chang is in her bubble up north and witnessing most of the freak-outs remotely and not in person.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The club would mark the anniversary before the game closest to the disaster.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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The two were at odds over the press conferences that were held to update the public on the disaster and on efforts to reopen the burn area to traffic.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
Verb
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Three years after the incident involving Cordell, a prisoner claimed he was assaulted, choked and Tazed by Hadder while on day release for a family reunion at a Waffle House.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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The characteristics and size of the small starch clumps could constitute a choking hazard, said Mondelez Global, which owns the brand, particularly in young children and the elderly.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Fungi fossils preserved in the chert contained compounds from the breakdown of chitin and glucan, key structural molecules in fungi.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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Early motorists often carried tools and spare parts, expecting breakdowns as part of the journey.—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Melt down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melt%20down. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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