breaking point

breaking point

noun

Definition of BREAKING POINT

1

: the point at which a person gives way under stress

2

: the point at which a situation becomes critical

3

: the point at which something loses force or validity <stretch the rules to the breaking point>

Examples of BREAKING POINT

1. <tensions between the two nations had risen to the breaking point>

First Known Use of BREAKING POINT

1865

Related to BREAKING POINT

Synonyms: boiling point, emergency, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk, exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture, tinderbox, zero hour

Related Words: contingency, possibility; climax, turning point; happening, landmark, milestone; condition, pass, situation, strait; deadlock, impasse, stalemate; corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, last ditch, pinch, predicament, scrape, spot; eleventh hour, last minute

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Rhymes with BREAKING POINT

at gunpoint, at knifepoint, basis point, boiling point, brownie point, cardinal point, counterpoint, Curie point, disappoint, extra point, floating-point, focal point, freezing point, growing point, ideal point, knuckle joint, melting point, miter joint, needlepoint, out of joint, pedal point, petit point, point-to-point, pressure point, rabbet joint, selling point, silverpoint, sticking point, strain a point, stretch a point, talking point, to the point, trigger point, triple point, turning point, vantage point, vowel point