as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
with only three minutes left in the game, it was definitely crunch time
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch time
Instead, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Jamal Murray were the final three in the running for the league’s crunch time award.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
In crunch times, our duties overlap.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2026
The distinction, as Green told The Athletic earlier this week, involves which guys stand up at crunch time – the postseason, of course, being the crunchiest of crunch time – and which guys don’t.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
The Blue Devils were up 15 at half and cruising over UConn, but as crunch time came, the wheels started to fall off for the top team in the country.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
In crunch times, our duties overlap.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2026
The distinction, as Green told The Athletic earlier this week, involves which guys stand up at crunch time – the postseason, of course, being the crunchiest of crunch time – and which guys don’t.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
The Blue Devils were up 15 at half and cruising over UConn, but as crunch time came, the wheels started to fall off for the top team in the country.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch time
Noun
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Energy security in focus The war’s disruption to the Strait of Hormuz has sharpened focus on energy security around the world and comes on the heels of the energy crisis sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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The small Nordic country had applied to join the EU in 2009 in the wake of the global financial crisis, before suspending membership talks four years later.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Noun
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From the Neolithic rock art of what is now Libya to ancient Egypt, China and India, to medieval and Renaissance Europe, creatures at borderlands of what was taken to be civilization were represented as cynocephalic, that is, humans with dog heads.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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In the gallery, Austin's brother, Hunter Metcalf, lowered his head into his hands, visibly shaken.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Hugh Jackman has reportedly reached his breaking point with the ongoing drama surrounding his split from ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
1 June 2026
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What's the price increase breaking point for shoppers?—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Moreover, as the tension between Penelope and Casey reaches a boiling point, Lori and Malcolm let the girls sort things out for themselves.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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The bad blood that had festered between the two competitors came to a boiling point.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Death is often a flash point for communal anger.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
29 May 2026
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That’s a huge flash point in American society, far beyond this play.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch%20time. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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