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 wedding — and especially Cassie and Nate’s dance, as Cassie melts down on the day she’s spent her life dreaming of, having learned about the deep financial hole Nate is in — must have felt especially layered.
—
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 June 2026
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
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melts down
Verb
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This cracks long plastic chains into smaller hydrocarbon chunks.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
6 June 2026
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Crooks gets to stay in the Big 12 as a senior, and Oklahoma State cracks the top 25.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Daily Money breaks down complex consumer and financial news.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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Below, Akinnuoye-Agbaje breaks down the climactic episode, explaining why Alamo decides to let Rue kill herself and why Bishop betrays him.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Not the one who chokes in the playoffs.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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Democratic lawmakers aren’t particularly sympathetic to the industry, pointing to reports of soaring profits for oil companies as the war chokes consumers around the world.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The new map breaks up the state’s current 9th Congressional District, which is primarily made up of Memphis, and the state’s only majority-Black district.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 May 2026
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Sometimes your boyfriend breaks up with you to be with an older divorced mom and that's a good thing.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Melts down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melts%20down. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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