What does "meltdown" mean?
Severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and potentially in radiation escaping.
Meltdown
noun, slang
noun, slang ·2 syllables ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and potentially in radiation escaping.
- Grammar: meltdown is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: break down, breakdown, breakdowns, catastrophe.
- Useful contrasts: calm, composure, containment.
- Usage evidence: For the past eight years since the meltdown of Fukushima's three reactors, some 200 tons of radioactive water have been pumped out of the damaged buildings every day.
How to use "meltdown"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "meltdown" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "meltdown" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "meltdown" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "meltdown" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "meltdown" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "break down" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "meltdown", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and potentially in radiation escaping. countable, uncountable
"Four years have passed since the meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, but the grim legacy of the Soviet catastrophe is still unfolding."
- 2 a disaster comparable to a nuclear meltdown wordnet
- 3 A situation being likened to a nuclear meltdown; a crisis. countable, uncountable
"Channel 4 switchboards went into meltdown this week when viewers called to complain about a Brass Eye programme on child sex."
- 4 severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping wordnet
- 5 A tantrum or emotional outburst. countable, informal, uncountable
"I had a major meltdown at work today. After being instructed one more time about additional work that I was to delegate to my direct reports, I snapped, but in a very polite manner."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 An autistic response to stress or sensory overload, in which the person is overwhelmed by intense, seemingly disproportionate emotions, behaving erratically and becoming unable to mask. countable, uncountable
"Now if I am really anxious, I can take a moment to think about what is making me anxious and what to do about it; before I would just spiral into a meltdown really quickly, with no understanding of why."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"For the past eight years since the meltdown of Fukushima's three reactors, some 200 tons of radioactive water have been pumped out of the damaged buildings every day."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "meltdown"?
Common synonyms include: break down, breakdown, breakdowns, catastrophe, collapse, collapse completely.
How do you use "meltdown" in a sentence?
For the past eight years since the meltdown of Fukushima's three reactors, some 200 tons of radioactive water have been pumped out of the damaged buildings every day.
Etymology
Deverbal from melt down.