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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
These fears may not pan out nationwide, or at all, but the coolant crunch is already driving up costs and delaying installations as manufacturers hike prices.
—Jing Feng, NBC news, 15 May 2025
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Researchers and economists crunching long-term risk data may think the price for a ground-floor home on a canal is too high.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Noun
Sesame Workshop has been seeking a new home for the show since the HBO talks ended (some of the Sesame Street library will remain on HBO Max), and the nonprofit has faced a budget crunch, forcing layoffs earlier this year.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
These fears may not pan out nationwide, or at all, but the coolant crunch is already driving up costs and delaying installations as manufacturers hike prices.
—Jing Feng, NBC news, 15 May 2025
Verb
The flapjack was fluffy, the taters were crunchy and buttery, the chorizo had a spicy kick, and the pungent sourdough bread crunched.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Researchers and economists crunching long-term risk data may think the price for a ground-floor home on a canal is too high.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch
Noun
-
At the time Volkswagen was the first automaker to warn of a global chip shortage.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Representatives of California and six other states have been negotiating long-term plans for reducing water use after 2026, when the rules expire, to deal with the ongoing shortages.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Let this list, which mostly eschews household names, be an antidote to that crisis, surveying 2025’s most notable releases thus far across pop, rock, electronic, rap, and Latin music.—
Jenn Pelly,
Time,
7 June 2025
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Northwest and West metros essentially owned the top of the housing crisis list.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
7 June 2025
Verb
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For many people, grit – the perseverance and passion for long-term goals – is a virtue.—
Darlingtina Esiaka,
The Conversation,
8 May 2025
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After sweeping aside Monza in their first Coppa Italia outing, their road to the final had not been easier, gritting out an impressive win over Atalanta in the quarterfinals before beating an Empoli side who had eliminated Juventus in the previous round.—
Adam Digby,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Most troubling is a lack of true concern or remedies for a huge problem for America, our national debt, and the service on that $36 trillion debt, which amounts to almost a trillion dollars a year.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2025
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Thomson maintains Luzardo’s issues are a lack of execution.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
Noun
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There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.—
Mike Hutton,
Post-Tribune,
19 July 2017
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Delimitros said one of the truck’s side view mirrors struck her in the head, causing minor injuries.—
David Hernandez,
sandiegouniontribune.com,
19 July 2017
Verb
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To determine whether demodex mites are the cause of skin irritations, dermatologists can tape or lightly scrape the top layer of skin and place the sample under a microscope, Ricardo-Gonzalez said.—
Kameryn Griesser,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
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In the nine games since, Soto has scraped together just four hits in 34 at bats.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
Verb
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First-timers typically make a beeline for Madrid and Barcelona, but even then, most people will only scratch the surface of these cities and their surroundings.—
Siobhan Reid,
Vogue,
28 May 2025
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But the car industry has not scratched the surface of these vehicles' potential.—
Emily Forlini,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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