nervous breakdown

NOUN

mental exhaustion

Synonyms

WEAK

burnout clinical depression collapse crack-up depression emotional collapse freak out mental collapse nervous exhaustion nervous prostration neurasthenia neurosis shattered nerves

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In my mid 60s, I found myself divorced and on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

The court heard details of the defendant's mental health issues, including a nervous breakdown in the 1990s.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

The finale, a musical nervous breakdown, illuminates what’s been driving the character all along.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2025

Following a nervous breakdown in 2018, he left both the seminary and the conversion therapy group.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2024

She had come to Yancy halfway through the year, when our last math teacher had a nervous breakdown.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan