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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch time
Although it’s not planned, Watt loves being reliable for the Knights during crunch time.
—
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
All four games in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Knicks (3) and Pistons (6) have been up in the air entering the fourth quarter, but playoff experience has made the difference in crunch time for the former.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
For two straight Aprils — since Landy’s been out of action, really — the Avs have looked soft in crunch time.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025
The run, made possible in part because of five KU turnovers in the final three minutes, stretched to 15-5 as KU wilted in crunch time.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
All four games in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Knicks (3) and Pistons (6) have been up in the air entering the fourth quarter, but playoff experience has made the difference in crunch time for the former.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
For two straight Aprils — since Landy’s been out of action, really — the Avs have looked soft in crunch time.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025
The run, made possible in part because of five KU turnovers in the final three minutes, stretched to 15-5 as KU wilted in crunch time.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch time
Noun
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Let this list, which mostly eschews household names, be an antidote to that crisis, surveying 2025’s most notable releases thus far across pop, rock, electronic, rap, and Latin music.—
Jenn Pelly,
Time,
7 June 2025
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Northwest and West metros essentially owned the top of the housing crisis list.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.—
Mike Hutton,
Post-Tribune,
19 July 2017
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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
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Georgia was really brought to her breaking point this season, compared to the first two seasons.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
7 June 2025
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Enterprise customer service is at a breaking point.—
Alan Ranger,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Tesla shares fell 14% as the tensions reached a boiling point, shedding $152 billion in market cap.—
Sara Salinas,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
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Occasional eruptions of controversy were provoked by oversights – most notably after the death of Joan Rivers – but reached a boiling point last year with the rapid succession of the deaths of actors Maggie Smith, Gavin Creel, Adrian Bailey and Ken Page.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Well, the Trump administration is at the center of three fast-moving international flash points, first Russia and Ukraine.—
/ CBS News,
CBS News,
11 May 2025
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And one of the biggest flash points in this is this trade standoff with China.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
4 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch%20time. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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