1
as in shortages
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crises
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunches
Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Though Jackson acknowledged that those time crunches can be stressful, being rude isn't the way to go.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Some of the best exercises for a stronger core include crunches, teasers, planks, and body-weight squats.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 20 Dec. 2025
Once empty, the entire floor crunches down to just three feet, so that the vehicle can be towed to its next location.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025
The EmSculpt Neo, a body sculpting treatment equal to doing 20,000 crunches in just 30 minutes, has been all the rage among celebrities.
—Essence, 5 Dec. 2025
Expect busy terminals, some new features, parking crunches and ongoing renovations.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Nov. 2025
The shutdown has compounded long-standing issues at the Federal Aviation Administration, which has grappled with significant staffing crunches for years.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
McGee led me through moves like Pilates 100s, crunches with rows, and full crunches (with my legs extended).
—Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 17 Oct. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Energage administers an employee survey that covers 26 factors and then crunches the feedback data and scores companies based on the responses.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), the nonpartisan budget watchdog that regularly crunches numbers on policy impacts on the $38 trillion national debt, included $50 billion as one estimate in a series of projections published in early November.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025
Each year, Google crunches the numbers to identify the items that were highly searched, newly searched, or trending for a period of time from May to September.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Nguyen Nik Bonitto shoves the Jets' left tackle back into Justin Fields and Zach Allen crunches him from the interior on that third-down floater.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
The whole thing crunches, melts, zings and primes the taste buds for more.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Though Jackson acknowledged that those time crunches can be stressful, being rude isn't the way to go.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Some of the best exercises for a stronger core include crunches, teasers, planks, and body-weight squats.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 20 Dec. 2025
Once empty, the entire floor crunches down to just three feet, so that the vehicle can be towed to its next location.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025
The EmSculpt Neo, a body sculpting treatment equal to doing 20,000 crunches in just 30 minutes, has been all the rage among celebrities.
—Essence, 5 Dec. 2025
Expect busy terminals, some new features, parking crunches and ongoing renovations.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Nov. 2025
The shutdown has compounded long-standing issues at the Federal Aviation Administration, which has grappled with significant staffing crunches for years.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
McGee led me through moves like Pilates 100s, crunches with rows, and full crunches (with my legs extended).
—Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
Each month, Edward Flores crunches the numbers.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Energage administers an employee survey that covers 26 factors and then crunches the feedback data and scores companies based on the responses.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), the nonpartisan budget watchdog that regularly crunches numbers on policy impacts on the $38 trillion national debt, included $50 billion as one estimate in a series of projections published in early November.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025
Each year, Google crunches the numbers to identify the items that were highly searched, newly searched, or trending for a period of time from May to September.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Nguyen Nik Bonitto shoves the Jets' left tackle back into Justin Fields and Zach Allen crunches him from the interior on that third-down floater.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunches
Noun
-
Staffing shortages identified years ago continue to undermine security and basic operations.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The delivery comes as Ukraine leans heavily on drones to offset shortages in traditional missiles and aircraft.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But so does an institutional tendency to respond to crises rather than implement reforms to completion.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
By the Sixties and Seventies, avant-garde disciples of Cowell had embraced graphic notation to compose work that responded to crises both global and domestic.—
Olivia Giovetti,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With a palette knife, Callie Siskel scrapes at the raw face of elegy, revealing interior forms on a canvas where the poet’s father lives beyond death.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
26 Nov. 2025
-
But the legendary key party scene only scrapes the surface, and the film's blue-gray moodiness is downright enveloping, not to mention its brutally honest depiction of family ties.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Economic theory would suggest that the best place to make a major investment such as a STAR bond would be in a place that has low, or lacks, economic activity.—
Sofi Zeman
January 21,
Kansas City Star,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The 6-2, 2-00-pounder lacks experience but does boast ideal length and versatility and currently projects as a late-round selection or free agent.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Turned to music, his body emerges from the ditch and now the dust is beautiful, a labyrinth of intersecting crossroads.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This crossroads of the world is set to become a crossroads for design-conscious travelers, too.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Football heads on social media couldn’t help but notice the name, Karene Reid, on the Denver roster ahead of Sunday’s AFC title game between the Patriots and Broncos.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
But so was the team's coach and that's why the decision revealed on Thursday had parents scratching their heads.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crunches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunches. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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