zero hours

noun

plural of zero hour
as in crises
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action we're at the zero hour, so someone has to make a decision

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 zero hours Nevertheless, this is an improvement on the zero hours that (many) men were doing 50 years ago. — Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zero hours
  1. crises
  2. crossroads
  3. heads
Noun
  • Public health and environmental experts told The Associated Press the coming weeks are critical to preventing secondary crises caused by contaminants from the rubble and rebuilding.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • Actors have broken the fourth wall since long before the term existed, turning to the audience to acknowledge the artifice of playing out private crises under public scrutiny.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026
Definition of crises
Noun
  • The New Frontier section which is the crossroads between tech creativity and independent filmmaking will return to 2027 as New Frontier FLUX to showcase new works which are pushing boundaries in a biodigital world.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 29 July 2026
  • The Buccaneers, by the way, are at something of a crossroads.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of crossroads
Noun
  • Mannequin heads stare at you through the storefront window, each topped with a wildly unique hairpiece – one with long, curly, bubblegum pink locks; another with a bright orange bob.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • Scavengers would dig up artifacts like gold coins and porcelain doll heads, and Bayouth admired their aged, archival qualities, a theme that takes shape in her ceramics.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of heads

Browse Nearby Words

zero hour
zero hours
zeroing (in on)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Zero hours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zero%20hours. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of spindrift

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All