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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of breaking point
Despite all the pastor’s conventionality and sanctimony, there are flames between them, but those flickers run fairly cool until a breaking point in which Manders at last makes explicit reference to them.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
There appeared to be a consensus Wednesday that Idaho’s child care industry is in crisis, with workers and parents stretched to a breaking point.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2025
What’s compounding the urgency to change is the devastating timing— aid cuts are hitting just as global hunger reaches unprecedented levels, stretching resources to the breaking point.
—Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
As with the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movements, such a dispute could very well drive the U.S. to the breaking point.
—Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
There appeared to be a consensus Wednesday that Idaho’s child care industry is in crisis, with workers and parents stretched to a breaking point.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2025
What’s compounding the urgency to change is the devastating timing— aid cuts are hitting just as global hunger reaches unprecedented levels, stretching resources to the breaking point.
—Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
As with the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movements, such a dispute could very well drive the U.S. to the breaking point.
—Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking point
Noun
-
These root causes include habitat destruction, hunting and other forms of persecution, and the growing effects of the climate crisis.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
-
The same governor who’s more focused on banning books and waging war against Disney than addressing the actual crises everyday Floridians face.—
Anne Watts Tressler,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
According to the post, tensions reached a boiling point during a family dinner.—
Kevin Sabet,
Newsweek,
24 Mar. 2025
-
But, recently, owning a Tesla has become awkward, embarrassing or controversial for many as animus against the carmaker’s CEO, Elon Musk, reaches a boiling point.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.—
Mike Hutton,
Post-Tribune,
19 July 2017
-
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
Noun
-
As Trump, in collaboration with Elon Musk, has embarked on efforts to decimate the federal government, public political gatherings—in particular, appearances by Republicans in their home districts—have become flash points for an angry citizenry.—
Emily Witt,
The New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Maritime flash points Besides Taiwan, the U.S. and China remain fundamentally at odds over the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely as its own despite an opposing 2016 international court ruling.—
Brad Dress,
The Hill,
7 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20point. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share