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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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
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Later, in response to some minor infraction, Joseph cracks his belt across little Michael’s butt.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Brisket is a tough, richly marbled cut that only turns tender after hours of low-and-slow cooking, when connective tissue breaks down and fat renders into the meat.—
Paula Disbrowe,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 May 2026
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Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which breaks down complex consumer and financial news.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
18 May 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 22 May. 2026.
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