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

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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
  • Created by Gene Hong (Beef), Citizen’s Arrest follows two longtime friends and neighbors whose obsession with solving a local crime becomes an escape from the private crises neither is ready to face.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The series follows two longtime friends and neighbors whose obsession with solving a local crime becomes an escape from the private crises neither is ready to face.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of crises
Noun
  • Which, honestly, left them at a very uncomfortable crossroads.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Loved by locals, Las Vegas’ Arts District is at a crossroads.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of crossroads
Noun
  • My doctors were department heads at Georgetown and Johns Hopkins.
    — Mariska Breland, STAT, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The tax adds 1% to 3% to the state income tax of single filers who earn more than $360,000, joint filers who make more than $721,000 and heads of household who earn more than $490,000.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of heads

Browse Nearby Words

zero hour
zero hours
zeroing (in on)
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Cite this Entry

“Zero hours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zero%20hours. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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