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
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
Expect a tight, competitive game as the outcome may come down to execution in crunch time, turnovers, and which team controls the pace and tempo.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
That day, like Saturday, the Cherry Creek defense bowed up in crunch time.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
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
Expect a tight, competitive game as the outcome may come down to execution in crunch time, turnovers, and which team controls the pace and tempo.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
That day, like Saturday, the Cherry Creek defense bowed up in crunch time.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch time
Noun
-
Daisy Jones & the Six chronicles the rise and fall of a group fronted by two charismatic lead singers—Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne—and their journey from obscurity to fame, complete with romantic tensions, personal crises, and drug problems.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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Climate crisis supercharging typhoons The western Pacific is the most active tropical basin on Earth but global ocean temperatures have been at record levels for each of the last eight years.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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,
6 Nov. 2025
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Experts say many multinational firms are adopting dual leadership models, where global business unit heads in India co-own strategy and product outcomes with their counterparts at headquarters.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Homelessness in California—and across America—has reached a breaking point.—
Michele Steeb,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
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The tension first reached a breaking point years earlier when her sister severed ties with their dad’s extended family.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ross's affinity for McDaniel has been well-known, as rumors of his being fired reached a boiling point way ahead of the Dolphins' loss to the Ravens in Week 9.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Things reached a boiling point between Katie and Mike during the peak of the pandemic baking trend.—
Mara Santilli,
Flow Space,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Harris said that dynamic reflects how education has become a flash point for national politics.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
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The already tense relations between Condé Nast and the union representing many of its editorial workers hit a new flash point this week.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch%20time. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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