melt down 1 of 2

verb

Definition of melt downnext
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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meltdown

2 of 2

noun

1
as in tailspin

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in collapse

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of melt down
Verb
It’s paired with a blend of lightweight sunflower, olive, and jojoba oils that melt down makeup, sunscreen, and excess sebum without leaving skin feeling slick or weighed down. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026 This one appears quick opaque and viscous, but actually does a nice job at melting down onto the skin and absorbing quickly. — Lucy Partington, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
As the tongue-in-cheek meltdown of MoMAlogue #1 had made clear, the hardest part had simply been getting this far. — Nolan Kelly, Artforum, 26 Oct. 2026 The idea is to provide nimble and reliable baseload power that’s clean, meltdown-proof, and relatively agile for limited power uses. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for melt down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melt down
  1. crack
  2. tailspin
  3. collapse
  4. choke
  5. freak-out
  6. disaster
  7. break down
  8. nervous breakdown
Verb
  • As if Helen were not already obviously out of sorts, her knowing less about the mission than Laila does and being wholly unprepared to crack a high-end safe makes the whole evening a bit much.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Todd Wash cracked a few jokes in his first press conference as Carolina Panthers’ interim defensive coordinator on Thursday.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of crack
Noun
  • While the Glee Club has yet to release their own teaser, Dunham announced the Girls revival via four-way video call with cast members Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, and Zosia Mamet that promptly sent the internet into a tailspin.
    — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 Nov. 2026
  • With Anthropic expected to IPO sooner than later, an event that could tip the rest of the stock market into a tailspin, the question of how to cover this world without becoming an accessory to its interests feels ever more urgent.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of tailspin
Noun
  • Has the collapse of a corporate strategy ever been announced with such enthusiasm?
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Despite her frustration and disappointment, Zamaray urged brands not to see the measure’s collapse as a reason to relax.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • The woman denied the allegations, and Ross hit her in the chest several times and choked her, the report says, restricting her breathing by twisting the collar of her hoodie.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Berry was successful in getting the court to dissolve the domestic violence restraining order issued against her after she was accused of choking her son.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of choke
Noun
  • The Derby’s question is quite often decided by whichever colt or filly has the racing focus and the strength not to succumb to his or her ambient freak-out.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Even so, the nation’s collective freak-out should serve as a wake-up call to both the food industry and regulators.
    — Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of freak-out
Noun
  • The organization provides individuals and families with essential products, including merchandise donated by retailers and manufacturers, to help them through poverty, disaster and other challenging circumstances.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Kim called for a public nonprofit disaster insurance program that would cover wildfire risks for existing homes.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of disaster
Verb
  • Those compounds break down over time, so the aroma becomes much gentler.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Palacios, breaking down in tears, admitted Capador was the one who did the hiring.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of break down
Noun
  • From the very start, the students assigned as guards went on cruel power trips and repeatedly humiliated — if not psychologically tortured — the inmates, to the point that some of the prisoners suffered nervous breakdowns.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 29 Oct. 2026
  • As rumors grew about why Talarico was not seen in public during one of the tightest campaigns in the country, Paxton suggested that the Democratic hopeful had suffered a nervous breakdown of some kind.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of nervous breakdown

Browse Nearby Words

melt (away)
melt down
meltdown
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Cite this Entry

“Melt down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melt%20down. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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