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
Relevance
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 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
-
Over the past decade and a half, millions from the Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia arrived amid successive crises in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, and beyond.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Of course, 2008 was the start of the subprime mortgage crisis, which led to the Great Recession and housing crash, when the market was flooded with distressed homes, giving buyers all the power.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Homelessness in California—and across America—has reached a breaking point.—
Michele Steeb,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Harris said that dynamic reflects how education has become a flash point for national politics.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
-
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 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share