as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
with only three minutes left in the game, it was definitely crunch time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch time
The second unit’s 23-6 fourth-quarter run provided the cushion needed to survive the Celtics’ crunch time turnaround, with just enough moments from the Sixers’ stars to close it out.
—
Jared Weiss, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
The Celtics’ struggles haven’t been limited to crunch time, however.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
The Wolves — and especially Edwards — have been terrible in crunch time, as The Athletic detailed.
—Nick Halter, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
Don't be surprised if Baker Mayfield continues to target the uber-dependable veteran Mike Evans (six catches, 84 yards) in crunch time.
—NBC News, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Jared Weiss, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
The Celtics’ struggles haven’t been limited to crunch time, however.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
The Wolves — and especially Edwards — have been terrible in crunch time, as The Athletic detailed.
—Nick Halter, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
Don't be surprised if Baker Mayfield continues to target the uber-dependable veteran Mike Evans (six catches, 84 yards) in crunch time.
—NBC News, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch time
Noun
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As the government scrambles, President Evelyn Mitchell (Angela Bassett) enlists former President George Mullen (Robert De Niro) to lead a crisis response team dubbed the Zero Day Commission.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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The agency, along with the region’s other transit agencies, is facing a looming financial crisis once federal COVID-19 relief funding runs out in 2026 and has been pushing for more public money.—
Sarah Freishtat,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.—
Mike Hutton,
Post-Tribune,
19 July 2017
-
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
Noun
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Shut inside her New Jersey home, Mckinney hit a breaking point.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
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According to the 2025 James Beard Independent Restaurant Industry Report, independent restaurants are at a breaking point.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Context Monday's report comes as tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine reached a boiling point after Friday's contentious White House meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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As the national debate over trans inclusion in girls' and women's sports has reached a boiling point in recent weeks, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has been uncharacteristically quiet on the issue.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
28 Feb. 2025
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
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch%20time. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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