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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
The entire affair smelled like a quasi-constitutional coup attempt authored by a desperate head of state whose intensive bickering with the National Assembly over everything from budgets to investigations had induced a nervous breakdown.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
One Fort Lauderdale women’s book club member said at a recent meeting that the entire group described itself as having a collective nervous breakdown due to election stress.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2024
With that, Angelica ensures she’s got four enemies for life, all of whom are teetering on the precipice of a nervous breakdown.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
The Gutierrez brothers grew up in a low-income house with an alcoholic father who frequently beat both his sons and his wife, who at one point was hospitalized after a nervous breakdown, according to Diane Mosnik, a clinical neuropsychologist who evaluated Gutierrez in 2019.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 16 July 2024
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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 21 Dec. 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
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