melt·down
ˈmelt-ˌdau̇n 
1
: the accidental melting of the core of a nuclear reactor
2
: a rapid or disastrous decline or collapse
3
: a breakdown of self-control (as from fatigue or overstimulation)
Synonyms
Examples of meltdown in a Sentence
Noun
fears that an accident could cause meltdown
a company experiencing financial meltdown
After a long day at the beach, our toddler had a major meltdown in the car on the way home.
Verb
rather than melt down, the team strengthened their resolve and ended up winning the game
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
The meltdown in artificial intelligence stock values this week punctuates Petek’s admonition.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
The ghost towns around Fukushima, created after three nuclear reactors melted down and fourth reactor exploded in 2011.
—Thomas Bass
author, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for meltdown 
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Noun
On the way to the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 in a rematch from two years ago against Kansas City?
No, try 2023, when coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts’ run at a Super Bowl instead turned into one of the more epic meltdowns in Philly sports history — and there have been scores of them.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
The meltdown in artificial intelligence stock values this week punctuates Petek’s admonition.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
Byrne plays Linda, a therapist and mother caring for a sick daughter (who goes unseen but heard in the film) amid a number of other stressors big and small: There’s a hole in the apartment ceiling, her husband is away on business for two months, one of her patients is melting down, and so on.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
The ghost towns around Fukushima, created after three nuclear reactors melted down and fourth reactor exploded in 2011.
—Thomas Bass
author, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for meltdown
Dictionary Entries Near meltdown
Cite this Entry
“Meltdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meltdown. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
meltdown
noun
melt·down
ˈmelt-ˌdau̇n
1
: the accidental melting of the core of a nuclear reactor
2
: a rapid or disastrous decline or collapse
a financial meltdown
3
: a breakdown of self-control (as from fatigue or overstimulation)
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