as in cracks
to yield to mental or emotional stress
rather than melt down, the team strengthened their resolve and ended up winning the game
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Recent Examples of melts down
The snowpack acts as a natural water storage system for California, and ideally when the region’s climate shifts from cold to warm and dry, the snow gradually melts down from rivers and creeks to fill reservoirs over a period of months.
—
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melts down
Verb
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Rhea has a wondrous laugh, which cracks the air like a lightning bolt of joy.—
Britt Lower,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
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Every winter, the freeze-thaw cycle cracks the asphalt from within.—
Yunus Emre Tozal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That said, not every set breaks down exactly this way—and that's fine.—
Jamie Thilman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Apr. 2026
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Hydrolysis is a chemical process that breaks down molecules.—
Amber J. Tresca,
Verywell Health,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jasmine almost chokes on her corn dog when that comes out of Janet’s mouth.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2026
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Then Leaphorn appears, knocks her down, and chokes her.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Gap Factory Relaxed Linen-blend Wide-leg Pants, now 50 percent off, come in a vibrant hot pink that instantly breaks up a neutral-heavy suitcase and adds a playful pop for spring and summer itineraries.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
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While Sam begins hallucinating people as puppets, Justin breaks up with him.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Melts down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melts%20down. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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