as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
with only three minutes left in the game, it was definitely crunch time
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 crunch time
The Celtics wilted offensively in the second half and in crunch time as bricks piled up.
—
Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
Congress is in crunch time to keep the federal government operating into the new year.
—Anna Spiegel, Axios, 13 Dec. 2024
Boston made just one shot over the final 4:51 of the game – a Tatum dunk with 1:41 to play – but missed their other 10 shots in crunch time.
—Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
Come crunch time in the face-to-face meeting, Bevilaqua shockingly pulls out the piece and whacks Chickie.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crunch time 
Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
Congress is in crunch time to keep the federal government operating into the new year.
—Anna Spiegel, Axios, 13 Dec. 2024
Boston made just one shot over the final 4:51 of the game – a Tatum dunk with 1:41 to play – but missed their other 10 shots in crunch time.
—Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
Come crunch time in the face-to-face meeting, Bevilaqua shockingly pulls out the piece and whacks Chickie.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crunch time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch time
Noun
-
Financial education equips individuals with the tools to avoid crises and secure long-term stability.—
Dr. Aman Alzubier,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
-
The off-screen tension was confirmed in December when The New York Times published a bombshell report that accused Baldoni of enlisting the help of a crisis communication firm to wage a social media campaign against Lively.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Cal Fire representatives said the current parking mess has already impacted them because the driveway to their station enters the highway not far from the trail head.—
J. Harry Jones,
Ramona Sentinel,
19 July 2017
-
There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.—
Mike Hutton,
Post-Tribune,
19 July 2017
Noun
-
While out on a business dinner with two potential clients — Jeff is hoping to fill their hotels with his furniture — Shauna hits her breaking point when the clients are less than polite.—
Samantha Highfill,
EW.com,
14 Feb. 2025
-
As our feature last month noted, streamers have reeled in their spending after an intense period of spending on original shows and films stretched the market to breaking point.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Related article Two transgender girls sue to challenge Trump’s executive order banning them from girls’ school sports The Stonewall riots erupted as the gay rights movement of the 1960s was building momentum across the United States and frustrations were reaching a boiling point.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN,
13 Feb. 2025
-
The situation reached a boiling point following a Friday press conference by Fuji TV president Koichi Minato that drew widespread criticism for its lack of transparency.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2025
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 crunch time
Cite this Entry
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch%20time. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share