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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch
Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Still, the arts center was in a bit of a time crunch, as it is currently scheduled to close July 7 for two years of renovation work.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Disney’s fiscal year ends in the fall, but THR crunched the numbers for calendar year 2025 to use figures for the same period as the company’s peers.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Noun
Once dry, there’s no crunch or residue—the weightless foam gives hair instant texture and body, adding bounce and lift to each strand.
—Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Still, the arts center was in a bit of a time crunch, as it is currently scheduled to close July 7 for two years of renovation work.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
This was after enormous pressure from the industry and media who scrutinized the executive and the streamer given their history for crunching the window for titles between their theatrical play and ultimate debut on Netflix.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Disney’s fiscal year ends in the fall, but THR crunched the numbers for calendar year 2025 to use figures for the same period as the company’s peers.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch
Noun
-
The lack of pay has contributed to high call-out rates at airports across the country, including at Philadelphia International Airport, where staffing shortages have led to longer security lines.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, sparked fertilizer shortages and disrupted air travel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
City leaders in Lake Dallas got more than an earful from residents who believe they were failed during a crisis in late March when a house explosion critically injured Jessica Bailey Lopez.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Don’t wait for your first crisis to act.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the Olympic debutant gritted her teeth and tried to forget about her throbbing, bruised knee.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But the rain calmed concerns that the state was heading into a severe dry spell, washed the soot and grit out of the air, and boosted conditions at Lake Tahoe area ski resorts.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As recently as 2022, research group IDinsight found unintended pregnancy was, after a lack of money for school fees, the leading cause of girls not returning to education.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In Miami-Dade, the lack of oversight has been acute, the Herald found.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One such affair claimed an extra life when the executioner’s son ascended the scaffold to brandish a head, lost his footing, and fell to his death.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There are, naturally, layers of deception to scrape away first.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Avery Sullivan, with whom Morris also plays in the country-rock band Fust, keeps loose time on drums, tapping the snare like someone setting down coffee mugs while Libby Rodenbough scrapes out a few melody lines on her fiddle and colors empty spaces with some ghostly tremolo.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The day started with bad vibes when two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom was scratched from his start with a neck injury.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Rookie Owen Caissie, a late addition to the starting lineup after original first baseman Christopher Morel was scratched with a left oblique strain, then drove in Edwards with a double to left-center.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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