meltdown

1 of 2

noun

melt·​down ˈmelt-ˌdau̇n 

1

: the accidental melting of the core of a nuclear reactor

2

: a rapid or disastrous decline or collapse

3

: a breakdown of self-control (as from fatigue or overstimulation)

melt down

2 of 2

verb

melted down; melting down; melts down

intransitive verb

: to suffer a meltdown : collapse

Synonyms

Verb

• break down
• break up
• crack
• flip (out) [slang]
• freak (out)
• wig (out) [slang]

Examples of meltdown in a Sentence

Noun

fears that an accident could cause meltdown

a company experiencing financial meltdown

After a long day at the beach, our toddler had a major meltdown in the car on the way home.

Verb

rather than melt down, the team strengthened their resolve and ended up winning the game

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The lineman was still relishing Michigan’s national championship parade when Philadelphia’s meltdown mercifully reached its end. —Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025

Cirium’s report credits Southwest for investing wisely, ensuring, among other things, that the meltdown of 2022 won’t happen again. —Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025

Verb

Rueter Carli Lloyd vaguely compares Lionel Messi and Christian Pulisic, the internet melts down Even now, the things that people overreact to on the internet have the power to surprise you. —Nick Miller, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024

Nuclear power plant meltdown: On March 28, 1979, a reactor at Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Pennsylvania partially melted down. —Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1956, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1956, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

meltdown

noun

melt·​down ˈmelt-ˌdau̇n 

1

: the accidental melting of the core of a nuclear reactor

2

: a rapid or disastrous decline or collapse

a financial meltdown

3

: a breakdown of self-control (as from fatigue or overstimulation)