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)
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
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
The pressure builds until Eddie has a meltdown in public, shaking and threatening the kids who defaced his car.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Eshe Nelson, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
On view at the gallery were three sculptures that look melted down amalgamations of iconic contemporary artists’ work like Yayoi Kusama and Anish Kapoor, as well as modern and pre-modern artists.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meltdown
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Noun
Organizing school emails, coordinating birthday parties, packing snacks and anticipating every potential meltdown became second nature.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
The pressure builds until Eddie has a meltdown in public, shaking and threatening the kids who defaced his car.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
That means the gold shipments from London go first to Switzerland, home of the world’s largest gold refineries, to be melted down and reformed into a smaller shape and then sent on to New York.
—Eshe Nelson, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
On view at the gallery were three sculptures that look melted down amalgamations of iconic contemporary artists’ work like Yayoi Kusama and Anish Kapoor, as well as modern and pre-modern artists.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meltdown
Cite this Entry
“Meltdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meltdown. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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)
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