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
The rules came after shelters peaked at more than 7,600 families in July 2024, a level that pushed the system to a breaking point and led lawmakers to spend hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to cover massive costs.
—
Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 20 May 2025
Maven Clinic's report also found the financial burden of fertility care has reached a breaking point.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 18 May 2025
The plot beats that follow Dante’s death strain credulity past its breaking point, and the fun quickly wears thin.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 May 2025
What was supposed to be a celebratory bachelorette party turned into the breaking point of a years-long toxic relationship—and now the internet is rallying behind the woman who spoke up.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 20 May 2025
Maven Clinic's report also found the financial burden of fertility care has reached a breaking point.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 18 May 2025
The plot beats that follow Dante’s death strain credulity past its breaking point, and the fun quickly wears thin.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 May 2025
What was supposed to be a celebratory bachelorette party turned into the breaking point of a years-long toxic relationship—and now the internet is rallying behind the woman who spoke up.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for breaking point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking point
Noun
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Since returning to office, Trump has moved with speed and severity to eliminate legal immigration pathways, particularly humanitarian protections for those who fled crises abroad.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 May 2025
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Last month, Sacks co-hosted a launch party at the Occidental, a venerable restaurant near the White House where political operatives once worked to defuse the Cuban missile crisis over crab cakes and pork chops.—
Evan Osnos,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Pham was born in Vietnam in 1967 as the war reached a boiling point, and his family repeatedly tried to flee the country.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 May 2025
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When Homa tossed that club on Sunday, the mini fit of rage made for a kitschy little video clip of a player reaching a boiling point.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
21 May 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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Cal Fire representatives said the current parking mess has already impacted them because the driveway to their station enters the highway not far from the trail head.—
J. Harry Jones,
Ramona Sentinel,
19 July 2017
Noun
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Well, the Trump administration is at the center of three fast-moving international flash points, first Russia and Ukraine.—
/ CBS News,
CBS News,
11 May 2025
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And one of the biggest flash points in this is this trade standoff with China.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
4 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20point. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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