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

Synonyms

• boiling point
• clutch
• conjuncture
• crisis
• crossroad(s)
• crunch
• crunch time
• Dunkirk
• emergency
• exigency
• extremity
• flash point
• head
• juncture
• tinderbox
• zero hour

Examples of breaking point in a Sentence

tensions between the two nations had risen to the breaking point

Recent Examples on the Web

Naturally, just about everything goes wrong, with Clark reaching his breaking point when his year-end bonus doesn't materialize. —EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024

In this excerpt, Friedman describes how Megadeth’s waning success at the time compounded his stress to a breaking point. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2024

Opinion Queens is at a breaking point on affordable housing, especially for seniors. —William Jourdain, New York Daily News, 21 Nov. 2024

The quarterback development dilemma may be reaching its breaking point across the NFL, as now two of the three quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2023 draft have already lost their starting role. —Tyler Small, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

breaking point

noun

: the point at which a person gives way under stress