1
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
a severe energy crunch that resulted in long lines at the gas pumps
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
a player who's always good in a crunch, like when we need a goal to win the soccer match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch
Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
Six-word review: Subtle sauce and a satisfying crunch.
—Chrissy Suttles, Axios, 13 Feb. 2025
New Atlas, 29 Jan. 2025
The number crunching explains the difficulties on the ground; inflation rose from 64.77 percent in December 2023 to 75.45 percent in May 2024, finally dropping to 44.38 percent in December 2024.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Noun
The credit crunch began in the summer of 2007 in mortgages but shifted into an economic freefall across the economy.
—Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
Six-word review: Subtle sauce and a satisfying crunch.
—Chrissy Suttles, Axios, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
Use Teams to schedule meetings with coworkers and Excel to crunch out digits for your manager.
—New Atlas, 29 Jan. 2025
The number crunching explains the difficulties on the ground; inflation rose from 64.77 percent in December 2023 to 75.45 percent in May 2024, finally dropping to 44.38 percent in December 2024.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch
Noun
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This makes access easier to those who had relied on compounding pharmacies like Hims & Hers while there was a shortage of the drug.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2025
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There's a regional shortage of crossing guards, leading to school safety concerns, but D.C. officials say there's another obstacle: mandatory drug tests, which 43% of applicants fail.—
Anna Spiegel,
Axios,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Democrats assert daily, aided by the mainstream media, that the United States faces a constitutional crisis.—
Matt Klink,
Orange County Register,
19 Feb. 2025
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The memo has touched off a crisis at the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office and in Adams’ administration.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Their identity was built on defense, grit and goaltending, with timely offense.—
Arthur Staple,
The Athletic,
12 Feb. 2025
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In the early days, a business often runs on intuition, grit and a dash of luck.—
B.D. Dalton,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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There’s also no interior light, and for the price, that lack of a light, combined with the missing preheat feature, kept this one out of our top picks.—
Emily Farris,
Bon Appétit,
18 Feb. 2025
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The lack of a swift deal, the furore and the anxiety of the past week are ultimately in Putin’s interests.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
18 Feb. 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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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
Verb
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When the piece is over, my friend scrapes her bow down the strings, and Millie howls with laughter.—
Danilyn Rutherford,
TIME,
22 Feb. 2025
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The 1987/88 champ, scraping past Juventus to keep its hopes intact, has been a dominant force in the Netherlands lately, accruing 91 points to win the Eredivisie last campaign and only recently overtaken by a resurgent first-place Ajax this domestic season.—
Henry Flynn,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Ava flashes scratches on her forearm, courtesy of Isabella’s fingernails.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
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So was Kyle Connor, who was scratched on Thursday for Chris Kreider, who played a second straight game.—
Michael Russo,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to crunch
Cite this Entry
“Crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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