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crunch time
noun
: a critical moment or period (as near the end of a game) when decisive action is needed
Synonyms
Examples of crunch time in a Sentence
The team had trained well, but at crunch time they just couldn't perform.
with only three minutes left in the game, it was definitely crunch time
Recent Examples on the Web
Ironically, there was another offensive rebound that swung the game against the Huskies in crunch time.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 26 Nov. 2024
Barrett showed some excellent composure in crunch time.
—Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
Burrow lost in prime time to the Chargers after failing to come through in crunch time, dropping the Bengals to 4-7.
—C.j. Doon, Baltimore Sun, 19 Nov. 2024
Funding cliff This is not the first time the SSA has faced an insolvency predicament, with the early 1980s being another crunch time for the government agency.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1933, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near crunch time
Cite this Entry
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crunch%20time. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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