Synonyms

nervous breakdown

American

noun

(not in technical use) any disabling mental disorder requiring treatment.

nervous breakdown British

noun

any mental illness not primarily of organic origin in which the patient ceases to function properly, often accompanied by severely impaired concentration, anxiety, insomnia, and lack of self-esteem; used esp of episodes of depression

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of nervous breakdown

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

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.

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

He married and divorced three times, having a nervous breakdown after splitting from third wife Peggy Lipton.

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2024

In the mostly forgotten 1990 film "Crazy People," Dudley Moore's character, an advertising executive, has a nervous breakdown and starts creating brutally honest ads.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2024

Afterwards, he had a nervous breakdown and has not worked since.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2024

I didn’t mean to jump a fence, climb a fire escape, and watch you have a nervous breakdown.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023