nervous breakdown

noun

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

Synonyms

• breakdown
• crack-up
• tailspin

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

George's lawyer had said the student left Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu and transferred to another high school in a different Houston area district after suffering a nervous breakdown over the thought of facing another year of punishment. —CBS News, 4 Oct. 2024

Broke and suffering a nervous breakdown, the title character moves in with her sister (Sally Hawkins) and blows up her life, too, affecting relationships and finally ending up with the only person who'll deal with her. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

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