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
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Their bullpen is just missing Brock Stewart, who is facing a time crunch to get back from his shoulder issue.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Health Editorial Team, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
At the same time, the Home Buyer Scarcity Index, which measures how crunched an area is for purchasable homes, has spiked.
—Nigel Chiwaya, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Noun
Closing lineup crunch The Valkyries had four of it five starters stay in the game late to close, but Nakase continually rotated Charles and microwave shooter Kate Martin in the final minutes.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Their bullpen is just missing Brock Stewart, who is facing a time crunch to get back from his shoulder issue.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Keep your knees stacked over your hips, then lift your shoulders and crunch up.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
At the same time, the Home Buyer Scarcity Index, which measures how crunched an area is for purchasable homes, has spiked.
—Nigel Chiwaya, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch
Noun
-
The 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack shut down the largest refined products pipeline in the United States for several days, creating fuel shortages and demonstrating how OT disruptions cascade through the economy.—
Bob Ackerman,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In a decade that some critics believe has a shortage of newness and invention, slop is one of the few frontiers that’s actively being pushed.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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In a bizarre twist, that denial letter listed her husband as the patient but made reference to the care of a newborn, not that of a 52-year-old man having a mental health crisis.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Just over two hours east of San Diego and 15 miles north of the Mexican border town of Mexicali, El Centro has both grit and charm.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
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But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite — and a threat to the entire system.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s encouragement of Walker was enough to spur him into the race, though Republicans as a whole were hesitant, given Walker’s lack of experience and standing as an unknown quantity among GOP voters.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Traditional data lakes can store raw data at scale but lack quality controls, while warehouses enforce structure but struggle with unstructured or fast changing data.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Cherry breaks a Champagne flute on her own head and runs out of the gallery, screaming that Laura attacked her.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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Fowler's character, Randall, gets involved in the group of true crime enthusiasts when he's promoted to the position of head doorman at the Arconia after Lester's death.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Beat in vanilla and 1 of the eggs until smooth, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
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Although some of this base layer was likely ejected as well, Desch and his colleague Alan Jackson, also of Arizona State University, used simulations to determine that most of the material scraped from the baby Plutos was nitrogen.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The cats kept them up each night with their incessant whining and scratching at their doors.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
-
What itch does that scratch that the rest of this doesn’t?—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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