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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Example Sentences
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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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Financial education equips individuals with the tools to avoid crises and secure long-term stability.—
Dr. Aman Alzubier,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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The off-screen tension was confirmed in December when The New York Times published a bombshell report that accused Baldoni of enlisting the help of a crisis communication firm to wage a social media campaign against Lively.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
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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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
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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
Noun
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The move comes after Republican officials ramped up efforts to turn the 2021 order into a partisan flash point ahead of the 2024 election.—
Hansi Lo Wang,
NPR,
20 Jan. 2025
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The plight of the Palestinians will serve as a flash point, a symbol of inequities in the prevailing international order and, in the eyes of many across the developing world, the unfinished work of decolonization.—
Matias Spektor,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near breaking point
Cite this Entry
“Breaking point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20point. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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