breaking point

noun

1
: the point at which a person gives way under stress
2
: the point at which a situation becomes critical
3
: the point at which something loses force or validity
stretch the rules to the breaking point

Examples of breaking point in a Sentence

tensions between the two nations had risen to the breaking point
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Daniel: That moment occurred on the eve of the American Revolution at a time when tensions between the colonists and the crown were at a breaking point. Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025 Magellan Limited/Atlantic Productions The Titanic Digital Twin shows the boilers in the hull at the breaking point of the ship. ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025 The tension in the Indo-Pacific is nearing a breaking point. Arthur Herman, National Review, 3 Apr. 2025 And compounding crises driven by climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and fiscal pressures have pushed the grid to the breaking point, Cecilio Ortiz García, co-founder of the University of Puerto Rico’s National Institute of Energy and Island Sustainability previously told USA TODAY. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for breaking point

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of breaking point was in 1865

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Cite this Entry

“Breaking point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breaking%20point. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

breaking point

noun
: the point at which a person gives way under stress
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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