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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch time
During that same year, Green was caught arguing with then-teammate Kevin Durant after not passing Durant the ball during crunch time of a game against the Clippers.
—
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
The week before Christmas is crunch time for holiday shopping.
—Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
But Grayson Foley’s 205 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns paired with a clutch showing in crunch time to help Scituate produce just enough for a repeat title.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
Leading scorer Reese Dixon-Waters had a goose egg for the game’s first 33 minutes before making a big 3-pointer and two clutch layups in crunch time.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
The week before Christmas is crunch time for holiday shopping.
—Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
But Grayson Foley’s 205 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns paired with a clutch showing in crunch time to help Scituate produce just enough for a repeat title.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
Leading scorer Reese Dixon-Waters had a goose egg for the game’s first 33 minutes before making a big 3-pointer and two clutch layups in crunch time.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch time
Noun
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Protests erupted late last year after Iran's national currency, the rial, plunged to record lows, worsening a cost-of-living crisis.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
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But the agency has said the crewmember is stable, stressing that this is not a crisis situation.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Several districts in Kyiv were hit in the attack and an emergency medical aid worker was among those killed, according to Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The breaking point came two months earlier, when her sister-in-law called in a panic with a childcare request.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
29 Dec. 2025
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Moms are being pushed to their breaking point, a new USA TODAY/Peacock survey shows.—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The outrage has been growing and finally may have reached boiling point.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Things came to a boiling point after the poster mentioned wanting to move closer to her own family, which is about 10 hours away.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Policymakers expect other flash points.—
Alan Greenblatt,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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The controversy was the latest flash point in rural Hood County between local governments’ efforts to grow their communities economically and their citizens who want to preserve a rural quality of life.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch%20time. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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