deal-breaker
noun
deal-break·er
ˈdēl-ˌbrā-kər 
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
Tim PanaccioPay 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
Matt Ellis2
: 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
Jason CiprianiOverall, the biggest dealbreaker was the $290 price tag.—Bianca Alba
Bianca AlbaAny number of women I interviewed cited clinginess in a boyfriend as a major deal breaker.—Liza Mundy
Liza MundyExamples of deal-breaker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Deal-breaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deal-breaker. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
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