as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
tensions between the two nations had risen to the breaking point
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Recent Examples of breaking point
The breaking point of the Chiefs’ season came a week before they were eliminated from playoff contention, and a week before quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a knee injury that will now occupy his offseason.
—
Sam McDowell 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
What was the breaking point that led you to that decision?
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2026
With talks getting nowhere, Parsons' growing frustrations reached their breaking point during training camp.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Next to the Comet, the de Haviland museum displays a section of fuselage that was tested to breaking point.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Sam McDowell 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
What was the breaking point that led you to that decision?
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2026
With talks getting nowhere, Parsons' growing frustrations reached their breaking point during training camp.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Next to the Comet, the de Haviland museum displays a section of fuselage that was tested to breaking point.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking point
Noun
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As Russia reduced flows, prices spiked, pushing up energy bills and helping fuel a cost of living crisis.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Anger among Labour lawmakers about Mandelson escalated into a crisis for Starmer that could yet end his leadership.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Over the last week, tensions between the Pentagon and artificial intelligence giant Anthropic have reached a boiling point.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
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These tensions reportedly reached a boiling point last week when, by its own admission, the BNRA fatally shot a PDF fighter in a dispute over a weapon.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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After Mike Vrabel was fired as the head coach in Tennessee, Kuhr spent the 2024 season as a defensive assistant with the Giants before Vrabel re-hired him in New England as his inside linebackers coach.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
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After last season’s 7-5 finish, head coach Brennan Marion left to become Colorado’s OC.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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California’s grand vision for a bullet train, originally to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles, has become a flash point in national politics.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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The current contentious state of NCAA eligibility in college athletics has another courtroom flash point looming.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20point. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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