as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
when the situation reached the boiling point, the President had no choice but to order out the National Guard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 boiling point
The tension came to a boiling point in recent weeks when Steel’s campaign sent mailers depicting Tran as a communist sympathizer.
—
Angie Orellana Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
Tensions between Israel and Iran remain at a boiling point, more than a week after Israel launched a wave of airstrikes into Iranian territory, the latest in a chain of retaliatory attacks after Iran fired a barrage of around 200 missiles at Israel in early October.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
Things apparently reached a boiling point when the boyfriend’s 65-year-old mother recently got engaged.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 11 Jan. 2025
Things seemed to reach a boiling point after the team’s 20-17 loss to the woeful Panthers in Germany.
—Charlotte Carroll, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for boiling point 
Angie Orellana Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
Tensions between Israel and Iran remain at a boiling point, more than a week after Israel launched a wave of airstrikes into Iranian territory, the latest in a chain of retaliatory attacks after Iran fired a barrage of around 200 missiles at Israel in early October.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
Things apparently reached a boiling point when the boyfriend’s 65-year-old mother recently got engaged.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 11 Jan. 2025
Things seemed to reach a boiling point after the team’s 20-17 loss to the woeful Panthers in Germany.
—Charlotte Carroll, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for boiling point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boiling point
Noun
-
The case raises concerns about whether officers receive sufficient instruction on identifying and responding to medical crises.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
-
The Trump administration says dismantling the agency is grounded in efforts to save government money, though some experts have warned that freezing its funds will intensify global humanitarian crises.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
While the woman and her younger sister initially complied with this rule to remain at peace, the situation has now reached a breaking point.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Institutions like Red Lobster and TGI Fridays filed for bankruptcy last year; Denny’s and Applebee’s announced major store closings; and customers reached their breaking point with McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC’s prices.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Now, Maineri heads into year 12 with 18 pitchers on his roster, hoping that rising junior Caleb Gilbert and sophomore-to-be Zach Hess will emerge at the top of the pitching rotation.—
John Roach,
NOLA.com,
19 July 2017
-
Delimitros said one of the truck’s side view mirrors struck her in the head, causing minor injuries.—
David Hernandez,
sandiegouniontribune.com,
19 July 2017
Noun
-
The move comes after Republican officials ramped up efforts to turn the 2021 order into a partisan flash point ahead of the 2024 election.—
Hansi Lo Wang,
NPR,
20 Jan. 2025
-
The plight of the Palestinians will serve as a flash point, a symbol of inequities in the prevailing international order and, in the eyes of many across the developing world, the unfinished work of decolonization.—
Matias Spektor,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near boiling point
Cite this Entry
“Boiling point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boiling%20point. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share