as in crucial
resulting in either definite success or definite failure
a make-or-break decision The next year will be a make-or-break time for the company.
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Examples of make-or-break in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Harris will head to the reliably Republican state just 10 days before Election Day in an effort to refocus her campaign against former President Donald Trump on reproductive care, which Democrats see as a make-or-break issue this year.
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Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 24 Oct. 2024
In an election as tight as this year, a couple of million dollars could be the make-or-break number that determines House control.
—Max Thornberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 3 Oct. 2024
In many ways, October will be a make-or-break month for Beauchamp.
—Brian Sampson, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for make-or-break 
Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 24 Oct. 2024
In an election as tight as this year, a couple of million dollars could be the make-or-break number that determines House control.
—Max Thornberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 3 Oct. 2024
In many ways, October will be a make-or-break month for Beauchamp.
—Brian Sampson, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
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
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Make-or-break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-or-break. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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