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
If Williams is trying to answer questions this season, one is looming larger than the rest: How much longer until the Bulls reach a breaking point?
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
There are several pieces to that roster that may have reached a breaking point in New York.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025
While the woman and her younger sister initially complied with this rule to remain at peace, the situation has now reached a breaking point.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 5 Feb. 2025
Institutions like Red Lobster and TGI Fridays filed for bankruptcy last year; Denny’s and Applebee’s announced major store closings; and customers reached their breaking point with McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC’s prices.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
There are several pieces to that roster that may have reached a breaking point in New York.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025
While the woman and her younger sister initially complied with this rule to remain at peace, the situation has now reached a breaking point.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 5 Feb. 2025
Institutions like Red Lobster and TGI Fridays filed for bankruptcy last year; Denny’s and Applebee’s announced major store closings; and customers reached their breaking point with McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC’s prices.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking point
Noun
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Carter-Williams, who has a PhD in public health, went through her own health crisis, surviving a heart attack and two strokes due to genetic heart disease.—
Keyaira Boone,
Essence,
19 Feb. 2025
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Financial education equips individuals with the tools to avoid crises and secure long-term stability.—
Dr. Aman Alzubier,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Related article Two transgender girls sue to challenge Trump’s executive order banning them from girls’ school sports The Stonewall riots erupted as the gay rights movement of the 1960s was building momentum across the United States and frustrations were reaching a boiling point.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN,
13 Feb. 2025
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The situation reached a boiling point following a Friday press conference by Fuji TV president Koichi Minato that drew widespread criticism for its lack of transparency.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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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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
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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
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And nearly a third of these counties settled their races by just over a point, meaning real estate woes turned these counties into political flash points.—
Jasmine Cui,
NBC News,
10 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Breaking point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20point. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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