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
Dwayne Chauhan, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Your company went through major layoffs in 2024 and sold off about a third of its TV station portfolio for $171 million last year, sparking speculation about a cash crunch for your businesses with the decline of linear TV.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Mike Wall, Space.com, 13 May 2026
The Deportation Data Project, which was founded by a political scientist and two lawyers, has successfully obtained immigration enforcement data through the Freedom of Information Act, enabling researchers like East to crunch it.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Noun
Further, look to model supply chain shocks, liquidity crunches and other forms of market volatility.
—Dwayne Chauhan, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Your company went through major layoffs in 2024 and sold off about a third of its TV station portfolio for $171 million last year, sparking speculation about a cash crunch for your businesses with the decline of linear TV.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Verb
The agency did that, then crunched the numbers.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 13 May 2026
The Deportation Data Project, which was founded by a political scientist and two lawyers, has successfully obtained immigration enforcement data through the Freedom of Information Act, enabling researchers like East to crunch it.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch
Noun
-
American officials also said Beijing would address rare earth shortages, although this was not mentioned in the corresponding statement from China.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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There is no shortage of choices, from fast-growing bushes for a privacy hedge, evergreen shrubs that provide year-round color in your yard, or flowering shrubs with gorgeous blooms in the spring or summer.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Starmer appears to have seen off any immediate leadership challenge for now, and will hope that today’s pomp, pageantry and policy agenda can shift attention away from the current crisis.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
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Wednesday’s report came during one of the worst budget crises in the city of Sacramento since the Great Recession.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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This is where the conspiracy theories begin to grit their teeth.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Eye protection keeps grime and grit out of your eyes.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The guard admitted he was surprised by the lack of questions about his medical status but voiced confidence that the issue would not continue into his NBA career.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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The defense has detailed the lack of physical evidence — no DNA or blood was found on Murdaugh or any of his clothes, even though the killings were at close range with powerful weapons that were never found.—
Jeffrey Collins,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
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All of the suspects were dressed head-to-toe in black, with some wearing hoods and masks.—
Louis Casiano , Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
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Collins’s main competitors are Derek Dooley, the former head coach of the football programs at Louisiana Tech and the University of Tennessee, and Buddy Carter, another Georgia congressman.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
Verb
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If using garden cucumbers, peel off the waxy skin and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds before slicing.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
15 May 2026
-
Brazil beat the Netherlands 3–2 in the quarterfinals and scraped past Sweden 1–0 in the semifinals thanks to a goal from forward Romário.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The chance to work with the former Brighton & Hove Albion manager had been a significant draw for many of the players who had joined the club over the previous 18 months, and his abrupt departure left some scratching their heads.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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Corona de Oro, the 11 horse on Saturday, was scratched well ahead of the Derby, and Great White, who reared up and fell on his back after becoming startled shortly before entering the Derby gate, took the 13 post on Saturday.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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