nervous breakdown

noun

Definition of nervous breakdownnext
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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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 nervous breakdown This happened years before, in such a serious way that my friend had to take a three-month medical leave of absence due to what was likely a nervous breakdown. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 When their news anchor (Peter Finch) has a nervous breakdown on the air, suddenly their ratings turn around, bringing on a moral morass only some of them are prepared to face. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 Mostly because Kiesling’s voice is delightful, and this chronicle of Daphne—a young mother-intellectual on the verge of a nervous breakdown—is open-hearted and unsparing about the work that goes into balancing infant care with day job. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026 By the end of that first season, Padilla had carved out a lane playing a variety of women not just on the verge of a nervous breakdown but full-body catapulting themselves over the edge of Nervous Breakdown Cliff. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nervous breakdown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervous breakdown
breakdown
Noun
  • Portlandia aired for eight seasons and 77 episodes on IFC, concluding its run in 2018; check out Rolling Stone’s 20 favorite sketches from Portlandia, as well as Brownstein’s breakdown of the series’ most memorable characters.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2026
  • Here’s a breakdown of each character’s messy back story and the show’s surprisingly happy ending.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 9 July 2026
Definition of breakdown

Browse Nearby Words

nervous
nervous breakdown
nervous breakdowns
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Cite this Entry

“Nervous breakdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervous%20breakdown. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nervous breakdown

Nglish: Translation of nervous breakdown for Spanish Speakers

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