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
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024
But the lack of specifics around that abdominal surgery sent royal watchers into meltdown—and possibly led to a crime being committed.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2024
Genesis settles with the SEC After almost one and a half years of crypto meltdown and court proceedings, Genesis has agreed to pay $21 million to settle charges with the SEC.
—Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024
Support for nuclear power has only slowly recovered 13 years after a tsunami triggered the triple meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi atomic plant, which is still laden with tens of billions of dollars in clean-up costs.
—Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg.com, 8 Mar. 2024
The documentary examined the why’s and how’s of people who figured lead (in the form of bullets) was more valuable than gold and silver in the event of a societal meltdown.
—Chris Dorsey, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The crackdown underlies the seriousness with which the regulator is responding to safety meltdowns in the airline industry, which have appeared abundant lately.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
The Butch Lewis Act averted a potential meltdown of the P.B.G.C. multiemployer insurance fund, which was facing a $65 billion shortfall and insolvency as early as 2025.
—Mark Miller, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Today, the continent is balancing on the edge of a meltdown—both literal and figurative.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Naismith suspects the silver was first contained in objects held by the upper class, melted down when economic times got tough.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024
While that was happening, the 21-year old Kostyuk appeared to be melting down.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
Water from the dam’s reservoir had been used to cool the reactors, which now could overheat and melt down if turned on.
—Richard Engel, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024
These implements were possibly melted down and traded.
—Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 20 Feb. 2024
Suzie, who is also navigating a custody battle and occasionally using recreational drugs, melts down, and Piper viscerally conveys the sensation of feeling one’s life come undone.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
The move followed a series of mishaps led by human errors at the plant, where three nuclear reactors melted down after the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2024
The intense heat then melts down the mud, which separates into liquid metal oxides.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Feb. 2024
Noun
According to a stan account, which posted video of her mini meltdown, the venue’s air conditioning was too cold for her liking.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024
But the lack of specifics around that abdominal surgery sent royal watchers into meltdown—and possibly led to a crime being committed.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2024
Genesis settles with the SEC After almost one and a half years of crypto meltdown and court proceedings, Genesis has agreed to pay $21 million to settle charges with the SEC.
—Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024
Support for nuclear power has only slowly recovered 13 years after a tsunami triggered the triple meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi atomic plant, which is still laden with tens of billions of dollars in clean-up costs.
—Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg.com, 8 Mar. 2024
The documentary examined the why’s and how’s of people who figured lead (in the form of bullets) was more valuable than gold and silver in the event of a societal meltdown.
—Chris Dorsey, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The crackdown underlies the seriousness with which the regulator is responding to safety meltdowns in the airline industry, which have appeared abundant lately.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
The Butch Lewis Act averted a potential meltdown of the P.B.G.C. multiemployer insurance fund, which was facing a $65 billion shortfall and insolvency as early as 2025.
—Mark Miller, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Today, the continent is balancing on the edge of a meltdown—both literal and figurative.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
Verb
Repaired, he was soon returned to his post, only to disappear again, rumored to have been in the basement across the street in the Otis Art Institute, where he was eventually melted down.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Naismith suspects the silver was first contained in objects held by the upper class, melted down when economic times got tough.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024
While that was happening, the 21-year old Kostyuk appeared to be melting down.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
Water from the dam’s reservoir had been used to cool the reactors, which now could overheat and melt down if turned on.
—Richard Engel, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024
These implements were possibly melted down and traded.
—Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 20 Feb. 2024
Suzie, who is also navigating a custody battle and occasionally using recreational drugs, melts down, and Piper viscerally conveys the sensation of feeling one’s life come undone.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
The move followed a series of mishaps led by human errors at the plant, where three nuclear reactors melted down after the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2024
The intense heat then melts down the mud, which separates into liquid metal oxides.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meltdown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Meltdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meltdown. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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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