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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
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
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
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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 Nov. 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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