1
as in verge
an interval of time just before the onset of something medical researchers who are on the cusp of a major breakthrough

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in end
the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow the cusp of a fang

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples 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 cusp This year, an abundance of mainstream holiday books feature diverse LGBTQ+ people just on the cusp of falling in love before New Year’s. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2024 While Egypt is not on the cusp of a replay of the popular uprisings that brought down the Mubarak regime in 2011, its economic and political weaknesses will certainly undermine governance and may eventually threaten its stability. Michael Wahid Hanna, Foreign Affairs, 26 Nov. 2024 Right on the cusp of playoff position — that’s prime Trade Your Closer territory for Jerry Dipoto — the Mariners have as much incentive as any team to go big this deadline. Tim Britton, The Athletic, 26 July 2024 Dabo Swinney’s team, which handled The Citadel 51-14, should move to the cusp of the top 12 on Tuesday heading into a home showdown with current No. 18 South Carolina (8-3). Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cusp 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cusp
Noun
  • Some new tools, including a greater willingness to volley and come forward, had her on the verge in the tiebreak.
    Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Some EPs are leftovers from the artist’s last full-length, while others feel like a tantalizing taste of a new sound. SPIN’s favorite EPs of 2024 include new artists on the verge, one-off collaborations between singers and producers, and some of the year’s biggest pop hits.
    Al Shipley, SPIN, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Rams Hernández: Is this the end for Cooper Kupp with Rams?
    Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025
  • The pump station was also at the end of its useful life and experienced corrosion due to water on the pump station walls, officials said.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Two productions teetered on the $2M brink: Gypsy ($1,818,235, with press comps keeping the number down); and Sunset Blvd.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Engram had a renaissance year in 2023 amassing 963 yards in all 17 games, but the Jaguars fell just short of the playoff brink.
    Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Acuña says that Cal Fire provides tips for home- and landowners looking to fire-proof their property through landscaping and creating defensible space.
    Hannah Singleton, WIRED, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Here are 8 tips to get started Jan. 20, 2025 Science & Medicine RFK Jr. wants to improve Americans’ health.
    Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • If that moment, following a victory over the Green Bay Packers, was the apex of his season, Monday night’s performance was the bottom.
    Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Mark King, reached the apex of their popularity with this album, which was a commercial smash in their native country.
    David Chiu, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near cusp

Cite this Entry

“Cusp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cusp. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on cusp

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!