nervous exhaustion
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of nervous exhaustion
First recorded in 1925–30
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.
The duchess emerged after a seven-week stay in hospital for what palace officials described at the time as "nervous exhaustion".
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2025
Always high-strung, he was prone to mysterious fainting spells and periods of nervous exhaustion, which led some to question his dedication.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2024
Chastain declared, referring to an incident in 1989, when Lewis was playing Hamlet at London’s National Theatre and, citing nervous exhaustion, quit the run in mid-performance, never to act onstage again.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 17, 2023
For voters, it’s a recipe for nervous exhaustion.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 30, 2017
The habit of sickness is readily broken by some persons, particularly by those whose nervous exhaustion has not been great and whose interests outside themselves are naturally keen.
From American Red Cross Text-Book on Home Hygiene and Care of the Sick by Cross, American Red
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
