as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
tensions between the two nations had risen to the breaking point
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Recent Examples of breaking point
In Ukraine, negotiations will be extremely difficult, partly because only one side desperately needs a cease-fire, and that is Kyiv, whose army is dangerously close to its breaking point.
—
Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
But now, the relationship between Butler and the Heat — a talking point for weeks — appears to be well past the breaking point.
—Tim Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025
Time and time again Saturday night, the Broncos’ defense bent to a near breaking point, only to snap back.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
The match couldn’t have been more off from nearly the onset, and a possible breaking point was reached after weeks of unravelling when Skinner was held out of the lineup for Sunday’s 5-3 road loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for breaking point 
Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
But now, the relationship between Butler and the Heat — a talking point for weeks — appears to be well past the breaking point.
—Tim Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025
Time and time again Saturday night, the Broncos’ defense bent to a near breaking point, only to snap back.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
The match couldn’t have been more off from nearly the onset, and a possible breaking point was reached after weeks of unravelling when Skinner was held out of the lineup for Sunday’s 5-3 road loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for breaking point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking point
Noun
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In Episode 5, the strongest of the five that critics screened for review, Dr. Watson cares for a twenty-something woman amid her increasingly challenging sickle cell crisis.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2025
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He was sworn into office less than two months ago and has responded to one catastrophic crisis after another ever since.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Relli testified that the bullets grazed his knuckles as the feud reached a boiling point with his childhood friend.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2025
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Heat pumps work by moving and compressing fluids that have a very low boiling point.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Now, Maineri heads into year 12 with 18 pitchers on his roster, hoping that rising junior Caleb Gilbert and sophomore-to-be Zach Hess will emerge at the top of the pitching rotation.—
John Roach,
NOLA.com,
19 July 2017
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Cal Fire representatives said the current parking mess has already impacted them because the driveway to their station enters the highway not far from the trail head.—
J. Harry Jones,
Ramona Sentinel,
19 July 2017
Noun
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Funding for Ukraine has been a frequent flash point in government funding negotiations since Russia’s 2022 invasion, and the spigot is likely to close upon Trump’s inauguration.—
Sylvan Lane,
The Hill,
10 Dec. 2024
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What had been an inconvenience in one direction is now a blockage for both, a potential flash point.—
Alfredo Sosa,
The Christian Science Monitor,
13 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near breaking point
Cite this Entry
“Breaking point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20point. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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