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
Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2026
Enjoy the dip on its own or pair with fresh veggies for extra crunch and nutrients.
—Brianna Tobritzhofer, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
While Rivkah crunched numbers by day, Robby crushed stand-up sets by night.
—Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Noun
Pecans are softer with a rich, buttery sweetness that works well in desserts and salads, while walnuts have a firmer crunch and an earthy flavor that pairs well with savory dishes and baked goods.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2026
Enjoy the dip on its own or pair with fresh veggies for extra crunch and nutrients.
—Brianna Tobritzhofer, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
By crunching data from millions of monthly payroll records for workers in jobs with exposure to generative AI, the authors concluded that workers ages 22 to 25—the canaries—have seen about a 13 percent decline in employment since late 2022.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
While Rivkah crunched numbers by day, Robby crushed stand-up sets by night.
—Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch
Noun
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Several cultural events, including a book fair, have been postponed in Cuba this month as the island grapples with the most severe fuel shortages and power blackouts in years.—
Andrea Rodriguez,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
However, power outages and staff shortages also might be at play.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
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
-
From an outside lens, Norway’s lack of hockey success doesn’t make much sense, especially considering its status in other winter sports.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Visits to the shrine are seen by Japan's neighbors as evidence of a lack of remorse for Japan's wartime past.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
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
Verb
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For much of the last decade, Mustaine has experienced significant discomfort since the cartilage in the tips of his fingers has worn away from decades of frenzied playing, causing the bones to scrape together.—
Jon Wiederhorn,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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There are 618 McDonald's restaurants in Ohio, according to the web scraping tool ScrapeHero.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Do not use harsh scrubbing sponges or steel wool that can scratch surfaces and cause waffle batter to stick.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
15 Feb. 2026
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Nonstick Pans Nonstick cookware needs to be replaced once the surface is scratched or chipped.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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