breaking point
noun
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 in a Sentence
tensions between the two nations had risen to the breaking point
Recent Examples on the Web
The breaking point came two months earlier, when her sister-in-law called in a panic with a childcare request.
—
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Moms are being pushed to their breaking point, a new USA TODAY/Peacock survey shows.
—Sam Woodward, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Some perceived the foreign aid announcement as a bailout, which angered American farmers who said they were already being pushed to the breaking point by the loss of the Chinese soybean sales.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 8 Dec. 2025
But between signing Scott Stevens, then Brendan Shanahan, then Stevens again (in what turned out to be an obvious case of tampering), plus Michel Goulet and Marty McSorley and Petr Nedved and probably me and also you, the Blues pushed the concept to its breaking point.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
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Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Moms are being pushed to their breaking point, a new USA TODAY/Peacock survey shows.
—Sam Woodward, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Some perceived the foreign aid announcement as a bailout, which angered American farmers who said they were already being pushed to the breaking point by the loss of the Chinese soybean sales.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 8 Dec. 2025
But between signing Scott Stevens, then Brendan Shanahan, then Stevens again (in what turned out to be an obvious case of tampering), plus Michel Goulet and Marty McSorley and Petr Nedved and probably me and also you, the Blues pushed the concept to its breaking point.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Cite this Entry
“Breaking point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breaking%20point. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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