make-or-break

adjective

ˈmāk-ər-ˈbrāk 

: allowing no middle ground between success and failure

Examples of make-or-break in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, language isn’t the only difference; this version is almost half an hour shorter than the Hindi original and excises some make-or-break material. — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026

However, like many analysts who point to AI opposition as a make-or-break issue for many voters, Alejandra Montoya-Boyer, vice president of The Leadership Conference’s Center for Civil Rights and Technology, disagreed with Kovacevich’s lens. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 4 Nov. 2026

Dating back to the preseason, the month of November was always viewed as a make-or-break point for TCU football. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026

Amidst all the turmoil, everyone understood that the March 5 election was a make-or-break moment not only for the Hitler chancellorship but for democracy itself. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for make-or-break

• radiopaque
• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake