deal-breaker
noun
deal-break·er
ˈdēl-ˌbrā-kər 
variants
or less commonly deal breaker
or dealbreaker
plural deal-breakers also deal breakers or dealbreakers
1
: someone or something that prevents a deal or arrangement from being reached or fulfilled
That's where the other key player, Tomas Kaberle, comes in. He was a deal-breaker a few weeks ago in a potential trade between the Flyers and Toronto, when Quinn would not substitute him for the injured Danny Markov.—
Tim Panaccio
Tim PanaccioPay attention to any signs of a DIY fix or update. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, but it's better to know now—when you can ask the seller about it—than after the deal is done.—Matt Ellis
Matt Ellis2
: a reason for rejecting someone or something
The display is disappointing but not necessarily a deal-breaker unless your job consists of editing photos and videos.—Jason Cipriani
Jason CiprianiOverall, the biggest dealbreaker was the $290 price tag.—Bianca Alba
Bianca AlbaAny number of women I interviewed cited clinginess in a boyfriend as a major deal breaker.—Liza Mundy
Liza MundyExamples of deal-breaker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Shanahan, the former AI chief, warned that AI hallucinations, data-dependencies, and continuous human oversight might be a deal-breaker for intelligence work.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
But in the wake of significant postseason defensive struggles, the 7-footer simply cannot stand as a deal-breaker for a deal that could get Adebayo and Herro needed help.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Photo by Rabih Shasha Hurricane season isn’t a deal-breaker
Hurricane season officially runs from June through November, but the riskiest period is typically from late August to early October.
—Laura Begley Bloom, AFAR Media, 13 June 2025
That's a hard deal-breaker for Tehran, which demands its right to a civilian nuclear energy program.
—Natasha Turak, CNBC, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deal-breaker
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Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
But in the wake of significant postseason defensive struggles, the 7-footer simply cannot stand as a deal-breaker for a deal that could get Adebayo and Herro needed help.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Photo by Rabih Shasha Hurricane season isn’t a deal-breaker
Hurricane season officially runs from June through November, but the riskiest period is typically from late August to early October.
—Laura Begley Bloom, AFAR Media, 13 June 2025
That's a hard deal-breaker for Tehran, which demands its right to a civilian nuclear energy program.
—Natasha Turak, CNBC, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deal-breaker
Cite this Entry
“Deal-breaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deal-breaker. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
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