nervous breakdown

American  

noun

• nervous breakdowns
  plural

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

---

nervous breakdown British  

noun

1. 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

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nervous breakdowns
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of nervous breakdown

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nervous breakdown

Lindsey Korine has been living under a bridge after having a nervous breakdown and walking out on his wife and son.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

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

Another great performance in a go-for-broke horror flick about a woman well over the verge of a nervous breakdown.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2025

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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---