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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Recent Examples of breaking point
Iraq was plunged into a nationwide blackout earlier this week, as a temperature surge to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50° Celsius) — and subsequent spiking demand for electricity — pushed the country's faltering power grid to the breaking point.
—
Natasha Turak, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
What makes this crisis particularly maddening is that much of the demand driving infrastructure to breaking point shouldn't exist.
—Tomás O’Leary, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Their relationship ends after Audra reaches her breaking point with the Botwins' dangerous behavior.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Next to the Comet, the de Haviland museum displays a section of fuselage that was tested to breaking point.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Natasha Turak, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
What makes this crisis particularly maddening is that much of the demand driving infrastructure to breaking point shouldn't exist.
—Tomás O’Leary, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Their relationship ends after Audra reaches her breaking point with the Botwins' dangerous behavior.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Next to the Comet, the de Haviland museum displays a section of fuselage that was tested to breaking point.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking point
Noun
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The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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In a bizarre twist, that denial letter listed her husband as the patient but made reference to the care of a newborn, not that of a 52-year-old man having a mental health crisis.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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If Brisson is indeed speaking for his client, then there is reason to believe that Crosby’s frustration with the current state of the Penguins is at a boiling point.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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Only, his side of the story suggests that this summer was the boiling point of a longer game, dating back to last summer when contract promises were reneged upon.—
Harry De Cosemo,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Cherry breaks a Champagne flute on her own head and runs out of the gallery, screaming that Laura attacked her.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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Fowler's character, Randall, gets involved in the group of true crime enthusiasts when he's promoted to the position of head doorman at the Arconia after Lester's death.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Abrego Garcia’s case became a flash point in Trump’s immigration crackdown after he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March. Venezuelans and immigrants from Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, China and other countries have also been sent to Costa Rica and Panama.—
Juan A. Lozano,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
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The union will also be looking to address health and pension issues, a flash point ever since thousands of retirees were kicked off the health plan in 2020, as well as protections against artificial intelligence.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20point. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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