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
All four games in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Knicks (3) and Pistons (6) have been up in the air entering the fourth quarter, but playoff experience has made the difference in crunch time for the former.
—
Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
For two straight Aprils — since Landy’s been out of action, really — the Avs have looked soft in crunch time.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025
The run, made possible in part because of five KU turnovers in the final three minutes, stretched to 15-5 as KU wilted in crunch time.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
Then, in crunch time, Daignaeult figured out how to attack coach Joe Mazzulla’s gamble to put Payton Pritchard on Gilgeous-Alexander, drawing a double team that gave Cason Wallace room to put the game to bed.
—Jay King, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
For two straight Aprils — since Landy’s been out of action, really — the Avs have looked soft in crunch time.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025
The run, made possible in part because of five KU turnovers in the final three minutes, stretched to 15-5 as KU wilted in crunch time.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
Then, in crunch time, Daignaeult figured out how to attack coach Joe Mazzulla’s gamble to put Payton Pritchard on Gilgeous-Alexander, drawing a double team that gave Cason Wallace room to put the game to bed.
—Jay King, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch time
Noun
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President Donald Trump has highlighted fentanyl overdoses as a public health crisis and national emergency, and repeatedly criticized both Canada and Mexico for not doing enough to stop cross-border drug sales to American consumers.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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BritBox International has become something of an unlikely savior of the UK drama industry of late amid the co-pro crisis and the streamer has now swooped in for one of the BBC’s biggest upcoming series.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
14 May 2025
Noun
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Cal Fire representatives said the current parking mess has already impacted them because the driveway to their station enters the highway not far from the trail head.—
J. Harry Jones,
Ramona Sentinel,
19 July 2017
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Now, Maineri heads into year 12 with 18 pitchers on his roster, hoping that rising junior Caleb Gilbert and sophomore-to-be Zach Hess will emerge at the top of the pitching rotation.—
John Roach,
NOLA.com,
19 July 2017
Noun
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What was supposed to be a celebratory bachelorette party turned into the breaking point of a years-long toxic relationship—and now the internet is rallying behind the woman who spoke up.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
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Ritter recalls a breaking point on tour with Blink-182 in 2016, when his anger manifested towards Wheeler.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Their relationship reportedly came to a boiling point when Gacy was 20 years old.—
Andrew Nodell,
People.com,
9 May 2025
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The tensions have further reached a boiling point, with India and Pakistan trading missile strikes across Wednesday and Thursday.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Grant was unarmed, and that incident, which a number of people recorded on their cellphones, became a political flash point.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
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The case of Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man from El Salvador, has become a flash point in Trump’s deportation efforts.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch%20time. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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