nervous breakdown

noun

: an attack of mental or emotional disorder especially when of sufficient severity to require hospitalization

Examples of nervous breakdown in a Sentence

She had a nervous breakdown shortly after her sister's death. He is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Recent Examples on the Web It’s pitched right in the actor’s sweet spot, between acerbic wit and rapidly approaching a nervous breakdown. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2024 This woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown is running the line like the Navy. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2024 This is not one of those melodramatic movies where the mother has a nervous breakdown after the husband, unable to handle the pressure of kids, takes off with his personal assistant. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2024 With The Coin, Zaher creates a hypnotic portrait of a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Shannon Carlin, TIME, 22 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for nervous breakdown 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nervous breakdown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nervous breakdown was in 1866

Dictionary Entries Near nervous breakdown

Cite this Entry

“Nervous breakdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nervous%20breakdown. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

nervous breakdown

noun
: an attack of mental or emotional disorder that is severe enough to require hospitalization

Medical Definition

nervous breakdown

noun
: an attack of mental or emotional disorder especially when of sufficient severity to require hospitalization

More from Merriam-Webster on nervous breakdown

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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