deal-breaker

noun

deal-break·​er ˈdēl-ˌbrā-kər How to pronounce deal-breaker (audio)
variants or less commonly deal breaker or dealbreaker
plural deal-breakers also deal breakers or dealbreakers
1
: someone or something that prevents a deal or arrangement from being reached or fulfilled
That's where the other key player, Tomas Kaberle, comes in. He was a deal-breaker a few weeks ago in a potential trade between the Flyers and Toronto, when Quinn would not substitute him for the injured Danny Markov.Tim Panaccio
Pay attention to any signs of a DIY fix or update. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, but it's better to know now—when you can ask the seller about it—than after the deal is done.Matt Ellis
2
: a reason for rejecting someone or something
The display is disappointing but not necessarily a deal-breaker unless your job consists of editing photos and videos.Jason Cipriani
Overall, the biggest dealbreaker was the $290 price tag.Bianca Alba
Any number of women I interviewed cited clinginess in a boyfriend as a major deal breaker.Liza Mundy

Examples of deal-breaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
These issues apparently weren’t deal-breakers for the FDA’s Japanese counterparts, who green-lit the drug in March. Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2025 Love may be blind, but political differences can still be a deal-breaker. Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 10 Mar. 2025 In a LinkedIn survey of over 1,000 hiring managers, 53% identified showing up late as a significant deal-breaker in job interviews. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 While flirting and contacting exes are clear deal-breakers for many, personal pleasure and harmless interactions tend to be more widely accepted. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deal-breaker

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deal-breaker was in 1965

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Cite this Entry

“Deal-breaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deal-breaker. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

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