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
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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
Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zero hours
Noun
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For instance, governments faced with large budget deficits—whether due to economic strain, political crises, or war—may resort to creating new money to finance spending.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 Apr. 2026
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While outlooks for young people looked increasingly dire due to economic crises and deep social divisions, the music became openly critical of Orbán’s government.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In 2001, the crossroads was dramatic.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
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With its cast of characters essentially plucked from Fugard’s early life in Port Elizabeth, the play introduces Hally (a stand-in for Fugard) at a crossroads.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The younger two brothers float paper boats in the kitchen sink and Jeremy plays along, sprinkling flour on their heads—but making the kitchen a total mess.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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Ordinary humans like Stephen’s selfish boss are depicted as giant walking eggs, while others are proportioned like bobble heads.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zero hours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zero%20hours. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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