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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
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
Set in 1960s Italy, Sally Bishop (Monroe) and her husband travel to a remote villa in the wake of Sally’s nervous breakdown.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
As Greenberg, a carpenter on the back end of a nervous breakdown, Stiller lets his normally muscular shoulders slump forward and his eyes refuse to light up with their famous blueness.
—Sean Malin, Vulture, 5 Sep. 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 15 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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