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
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.
One of my editors used to say that every good book has at least one nervous breakdown in its background. Thomas E. Ricks june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025 At 19, as his peers made plans for college, Diller had a nervous breakdown. Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times, 16 May 2025 Most of the contests the party is having a nervous breakdown over — especially last year’s presidential election — were fairly close. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025 His views collide with those of the town’s mayor, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), a local bar owner who briefly dated Joe’s wife Louise, now recovering from a nervous breakdown. Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 May 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Nervous breakdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nervous%20breakdown. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on nervous breakdown

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