nervous breakdown

noun

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

Synonyms of nervous breakdown

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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.
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As rumors grew about why Talarico was not seen in public during one of the tightest campaigns in the country, Paxton suggested that the Democratic hopeful had suffered a nervous breakdown of some kind. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026 This had resulted in several nervous breakdowns during my first few weeks back home. — Joe Manganiello, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 Gloria Steinem attributed her mother's nervous breakdown before she was born, and her treatment in mental institutions and the workforce thereafter, as key to her interest in social injustices. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026 In 1944 her parents divorced, and 10-year-old Gloria was left to take care of her mother, a once-promising journalist who struggled to combine her work with running a household and who eventually suffered a nervous breakdown. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nervous breakdown

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nervous breakdown was in 1866

Rhymes for nervous breakdown

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Browse Nearby Words

nervous
nervous breakdown
nervous energy
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Cite this Entry

“Nervous breakdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nervous%20breakdown. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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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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