: allowing no middle ground between success and failure

Examples of make-or-break in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The make-or-break moment for Sites is a series of hearings scheduled to run from June to November in which the State Water Resources Control Board will analyze fisheries studies and other documents and decide whether to award it the water rights to move forward. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024 McGuire’s vision for the film highlighted a make-or-break moment for Ariel—the global financial crisis. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 Super Tuesday is a make-or-break day for Nikki Haley. Andrew Torgan, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 The interview comes at a make-or-break moment for the inquiry. Luke Broadwater, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 For a Cowboys team heading into what is a make-or-break campaign for coach Mike McCarthy, who is in the final year of his contract, timing is everything. Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Feb. 2024 Ultimately, though, the make-or-break factor could prove to be Mr. Biden’s ability to bring a critical mass of ordinary Israelis on board. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024 The film’s first trailer, released last June, made waves for its Rihanna soundtrack and make-or-break chemistry between the three leads. Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024 Marketing is one of the make-or-break challenges of starting a business. Becky Center, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'make-or-break.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of make-or-break was in 1919

Dictionary Entries Near make-or-break

Cite this Entry

“Make-or-break.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make-or-break. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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