: allowing no middle ground between success and failure

Examples of make-or-break in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This is all a clear reminder that as much as campaigns try to pitch the notion that rallies and field offices matter, that get-out-the-vote drives and phone-bank-until-you’re-hoarse drives are make-or-break investments, the race for the White House is largely adjudicated as a media war. Philip Elliott, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024 Plus, there are three sprint weekends over the final seven races, where make-or-break points are available. Rob Reed, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024 Yet a significant, often highly motivated, number of voters cast their votes on a single make-or-break issue, and some research indicates that a candidate’s stand on a specific issue is a greater factor in presidential campaigns than party affiliation. Penny Abeywardena, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024 Goldman Sachs eyes Georgia as make-or-break election state Two Goldman Sachs analysts released a note on Tuesday claiming that Georgia will be the deciding factor in the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for make-or-break 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'make-or-break.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of make-or-break was in 1919

Dictionary Entries Near make-or-break

Cite this Entry

“Make-or-break.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make-or-break. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.

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