crunch 1 of 2

noun

Definition of crunchnext
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

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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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crunch

2 of 2

verb

ˈkrənch How to pronounce crunch (audio)
as in to grit
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound I could hear the bicycle gears crunch as I shifted the derailleur

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crunch
Noun
The chicken wings maintained their crunch despite being generously sauced and carted over to our bungalow. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 July 2026 The filings capped a liquidity crunch brought on in part by the group’s costly bet on exclusive Olympic and World Cup broadcast rights. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026
Verb
In the opening minutes, a crunching collision in front of the goal between Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku and Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand left Beiranvand writhing on the grass for several minutes, holding his face. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 June 2026 After months of community outreach and crunching new data, the city identified where the most severe crashes are happening and where safety improvements could have the biggest impact. — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for crunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch
  1. shortage
  2. crisis
  3. grit
  4. lack
  5. head
  6. scrape
  7. scratch
Noun
  • The divergence is over whether the worker shortage is improving slowly or still getting worse, and what the Supreme Court should do about it.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Lights had been switched off to conserve electricity amid fuel shortages that have gripped Cuba since the beginning of the year.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of shortage
Noun
  • Bass said that the Lineage crisis is an environmental justice issue and highlights the health risks communities of color are disproportionately exposed to.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Singleton’s leadership was tested during the 2008 financial crisis and Great Recession, and again during the COVID pandemic.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
Definition of crisis
Verb
  • Showed toughness by gritting through ankle and knee injuries in the Final Four and title game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 June 2026
  • Then the coach known as the most impulsive man on an NFL sideline runs that stop sign, grits his teeth and breaks unbound into character.
    — Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Definition of grit
Noun
  • One Calabria hospital had lines several hours long Despite growing tourism and a strong farming economy, Calabria symbolizes southern Italy’s lack of development compared to the more wealthy and industrialized north.
    — Paolo Santalucia, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Josh Houston, who also filed complaints with state and federal agencies, said his biggest concern has been the lack of communication surrounding the project affecting the subdivision’s only access road.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
Definition of lack
Noun
  • Use the ax head of a garden mattock to cut through the roots at the base of the stump.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
  • The debate usually comes to a head in the summer, when high inland temperatures send bigger crowds to the beach, sometimes straining the mood of residents who live there.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of head
Verb
  • When a user asked boat-botany why New Reddit isn’t scraped as often as Old Reddit, the Reddit employee pointed to a comment by another user.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026
  • Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with ⅓ cup sour cream in 2 additions (about 2½ tablespoons each), scraping down bowl as needed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
Definition of scrape
Verb
  • Some scratches early in this past season led to reports of Mintyukov requesting a trade, but the smooth-skating blueliner improved his play and settled in on Anaheim’s second defense pairing.
    — Eric Stephens, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • In a game not known for high scores, the pace of goals in this World Cup has left some fans scratching their heads.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of scratch

Phrases Containing crunch

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crumps
crunch
crunched
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Cite this Entry

“Crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of crunch for Spanish Speakers

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