as in breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse
you're going to have a nervous breakdown if you keep up that pace
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Recent Examples of nervous breakdown
In 1964, Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown, quit touring, and retreated to the studio, while the rest of the group stayed on the road.
—
David Morgan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2025
Dern played a troubled sales executive who moves back in with her mom after a nervous breakdown at the office.
—Meriam Bouarrouj, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
Lane is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Fawlty Towers established Scales' role as a TV darling; the actress starred as the wife of Basil Fawlty (played by John Cleese), a rude hotel manager who forever appeared to be on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervous breakdown
David Morgan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2025
Dern played a troubled sales executive who moves back in with her mom after a nervous breakdown at the office.
—Meriam Bouarrouj, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
Lane is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Fawlty Towers established Scales' role as a TV darling; the actress starred as the wife of Basil Fawlty (played by John Cleese), a rude hotel manager who forever appeared to be on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervous breakdown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervous breakdown
breakdown
Noun
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Clicking into the title will give you even more information, including a blurb about what parents need to know, a breakdown of potential concerns and positive qualities about the book, and reviews from kids.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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Microplastics are tiny and sometimes invisible shreds of plastic that can be produced by the breakdown of plastic, the shedding of clothing fibers, manufacturing processes, and more.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nervous breakdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervous%20breakdown. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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