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
Relevance
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
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 meltdown
Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
By the end readers understand why all these sensations piling up over the course of the day could lead to a meltdown.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
The finish is radiant and gives me a ‘lil glow but not shiny, and doesn’t crack, crease, or melt down.
—Marie Lodi, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meltdown
Verb
The previous streak of fewer than 200,000 annual sales lasted five months during the global financial meltdown in 2008.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
By the end readers understand why all these sensations piling up over the course of the day could lead to a meltdown.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
The fact that the fake quote went so viral speaks to the extent of the conservative melt down over Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
The finish is radiant and gives me a ‘lil glow but not shiny, and doesn’t crack, crease, or melt down.
—Marie Lodi, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meltdown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meltdown
Verb
-
Determined to crack the case, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) closes in on the operation, raising the stakes even higher.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Brody kept things light by cracking threesome jokes.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Because if this tailspin continues, the offseason changes within the organization could be wide-reaching.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The rejection sends Frankenstein’s monster into a tailspin of isolation and misery.—
Jon Michael Varese,
The Atlantic,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Energy revenue is the linchpin of Russia’s economy, allowing Putin to pour money into the armed forces without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Second-half collapse The Suns cut the deficit to 12 after outscoring the Kings 16-11 to start the second half.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But that possibility is literally dynamited in a vision Daria has of the home abruptly blown to smithereens, the destruction replayed in slo-mo to the crashing squeals of early Pink Floyd, itself a collapse of psychedelic rock’s utopian ideals into acid-casualty freak-out.—
Jake Cole,
IndieWire,
18 Aug. 2025
-
The dog remained unfazed during Fowler's minor freak-out.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
For people like Wasefi, with sisters and nieces back home, no amount of tourist-friendliness can compensate for this disaster.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The October 10 disaster killed 16 employees at Accurate Energetic Systems, which makes military and demolition explosives about 60 miles west of Nashville.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Schmitt suffers a nervous breakdown after his arrogance (and Webber’s long leash on the residency program) leads to him killing a podcaster on the operating table and these two break up again.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Oct. 2025
-
But, of course, the producers didn't want Caroline to have a nervous breakdown.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Many in the consultant class recall how Democrats’ political bloodbath in 2010 was predicated on Republicans demonizing Nancy Pelosi, who was House Speaker at the time.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
-
This year's trade deadline was an absolute bloodbath, as the Twins cut ties with 11 players in two days.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Instead, Lane attacked Wilkins, choking her into unconsciousness and cutting open her womb.—
Jillian Frankel,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Another victim came to court, recounting a history of domestic abuse including choking and slapping by the defendant.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Meltdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meltdown. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share