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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch time
Financial firms and accountants experience crunch time in the lead-up to Tax Day.
—
Don Yaeger, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Then, in crunch time, Daignaeult figured out how to attack coach Joe Mazzulla’s gamble to put Payton Pritchard on Gilgeous-Alexander, drawing a double team that gave Cason Wallace room to put the game to bed.
—Jay King, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
The best teams—and the best leaders—do more than show up in crunch time.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
In crunch time, the Panthers continued to buckle down.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Don Yaeger, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Then, in crunch time, Daignaeult figured out how to attack coach Joe Mazzulla’s gamble to put Payton Pritchard on Gilgeous-Alexander, drawing a double team that gave Cason Wallace room to put the game to bed.
—Jay King, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
The best teams—and the best leaders—do more than show up in crunch time.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
In crunch time, the Panthers continued to buckle down.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch time
Noun
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That’s a stark contrast to Ange Postecoglou’s high-intensity pressing style at Tottenham Hotspur, which is often cited as one of the reasons behind Spurs’ injury crisis and subsequent poor form this season.—
Steve Price,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Health workers are on the frontlines of disease, crises, and war, tirelessly working to save lives.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.—
Mike Hutton,
Post-Tribune,
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
-
But the climax on a boat in the Baltic Sea, featuring Michael Stuhlbarg as an uncommonly contemplative Russian mercenary, stretches credibility to the breaking point.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2025
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The tension reaches a breaking point when Sara begins to suspect that Sebas, not Félix, may be responsible for the recent murders.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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So while the sun can heat the water enough to brew tea, the water isn’t reaching a simmer or boiling point, which would kill harmful bacteria.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
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The issue reached a boiling point last fall with the in-rapid-succession deaths of actors Maggie Smith, Gavin Creel, Adrian Bailey and Ken Page.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Antarctica is another flash point.—
Michael Albertus,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Mar. 2025
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The report identified specific flash points, including cross-border water tensions, and said some countries could experience instability, including from straining food and energy systems.—
Somini Sengupta,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch%20time. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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