1
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
a severe energy crunch that resulted in long lines at the gas pumps
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
a player who's always good in a crunch, like when we need a goal to win the soccer match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch
Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
To maximize their benefits, don’t peel them, and enjoy their sweet, tangy crunch in food pairings with protein and good-for-you fats.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 22 Oct. 2025
Philip Elliott, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Game night flies by in a montage — the crutch of comedies that can’t sustain conversations and jokes at the same time (or, to be fair, feel crunched for time).
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Noun
Each dumpling delivers the perfect balance of crunch and juicy filling.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
To maximize their benefits, don’t peel them, and enjoy their sweet, tangy crunch in food pairings with protein and good-for-you fats.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
The noise of crunching history is audible from the other side of 7-foot construction fencing.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Game night flies by in a montage — the crutch of comedies that can’t sustain conversations and jokes at the same time (or, to be fair, feel crunched for time).
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch
Noun
-
When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Flights are being delayed and cancelled across the country because of airport staffing shortages.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Daisy Jones & the Six chronicles the rise and fall of a group fronted by two charismatic lead singers—Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne—and their journey from obscurity to fame, complete with romantic tensions, personal crises, and drug problems.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Climate crisis supercharging typhoons The western Pacific is the most active tropical basin on Earth but global ocean temperatures have been at record levels for each of the last eight years.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Buccaneers quarterback has been showcasing some toughness and grit through his own injury scares, and also leading the team to gutsy fourth-quarter comebacks.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The Carolina Panthers gritted out a 13-6 win over the New York Jets on the road thanks to a two-interception day from Jaycee Horn, a turnover-free performance from the offense and a close-to-flawless day on special teams.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Despite his lack of coaching experience at the MLB level, Vitello was named manager of the San Francisco Giants last month.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Part of the reason why there are so few of these conversations about podcasting is a general lack of criticism for narrative audio.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Experts say many multinational firms are adopting dual leadership models, where global business unit heads in India co-own strategy and product outcomes with their counterparts at headquarters.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Interim chief executive Jean Claude Blanc, Sir Dave Brailsford and Jason Wilcox are all unsatisfied, especially after that Palace defeat and a chaotic FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City where United scraped past their Championship opponents on penalties.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
1 Nov. 2025
-
Stir in a splash of sherry vinegar, cook for another minute, then slowly stir in chicken broth, scraping up any pan drippings that have gathered along the surface of the skillet.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But people are hard-pressed to find any time, let alone 30 years, to scratch these interpersonal surfaces, Brackett explains.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
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Stein recommends avoiding using abrasive cleaners or tools that can scratch the stainless steel.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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