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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.

She explained she was in financial ruin as a result of the scam, and how she "almost had a nervous breakdown".

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

It cost him £27m in lost revenue and prompted a "nervous breakdown" among publishers, he said, but it paid off and in 2016 the company returned to profit.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

She endured a heartbreaking divorce and a nervous breakdown, while raising a daughter and writing books, only to rally again and find love again in the most unexpected place.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2025

When a nervous breakdown resulted in hospitalization, the author found she could no longer read her own life.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2025

She was suffering from some kind of nervous breakdown.

From "Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" by Kate DiCamillo

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