1
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
a severe energy crunch that resulted in long lines at the gas pumps
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
a player who's always good in a crunch, like when we need a goal to win the soccer match
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to chew
to crush or grind with the teeth
people who crunch on hard candies during movies really annoy me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
These fears may not pan out nationwide, or at all, but the coolant crunch is already driving up costs and delaying installations as manufacturers hike prices.
—Jing Feng, NBC news, 15 May 2025
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Researchers and economists crunching long-term risk data may think the price for a ground-floor home on a canal is too high.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Noun
Sesame Workshop has been seeking a new home for the show since the HBO talks ended (some of the Sesame Street library will remain on HBO Max), and the nonprofit has faced a budget crunch, forcing layoffs earlier this year.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
These fears may not pan out nationwide, or at all, but the coolant crunch is already driving up costs and delaying installations as manufacturers hike prices.
—Jing Feng, NBC news, 15 May 2025
Verb
The flapjack was fluffy, the taters were crunchy and buttery, the chorizo had a spicy kick, and the pungent sourdough bread crunched.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Researchers and economists crunching long-term risk data may think the price for a ground-floor home on a canal is too high.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch
Noun
-
At the time Volkswagen was the first automaker to warn of a global chip shortage.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
-
Representatives of California and six other states have been negotiating long-term plans for reducing water use after 2026, when the rules expire, to deal with the ongoing shortages.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Let this list, which mostly eschews household names, be an antidote to that crisis, surveying 2025’s most notable releases thus far across pop, rock, electronic, rap, and Latin music.—
Jenn Pelly,
Time,
7 June 2025
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Northwest and West metros essentially owned the top of the housing crisis list.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Most troubling is a lack of true concern or remedies for a huge problem for America, our national debt, and the service on that $36 trillion debt, which amounts to almost a trillion dollars a year.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2025
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Thomson maintains Luzardo’s issues are a lack of execution.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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