as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
with only three minutes left in the game, it was definitely crunch time
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunch time
Although it’s not planned, Watt loves being reliable for the Knights during crunch time.
—
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
All four games in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Knicks (3) and Pistons (6) have been up in the air entering the fourth quarter, but playoff experience has made the difference in crunch time for the former.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
For two straight Aprils — since Landy’s been out of action, really — the Avs have looked soft in crunch time.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025
The run, made possible in part because of five KU turnovers in the final three minutes, stretched to 15-5 as KU wilted in crunch time.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
All four games in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Knicks (3) and Pistons (6) have been up in the air entering the fourth quarter, but playoff experience has made the difference in crunch time for the former.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
For two straight Aprils — since Landy’s been out of action, really — the Avs have looked soft in crunch time.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025
The run, made possible in part because of five KU turnovers in the final three minutes, stretched to 15-5 as KU wilted in crunch time.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunch time
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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There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.—
Mike Hutton,
Post-Tribune,
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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Merryweather gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning in Friday’s comeback win against the Reds, ultimately the breaking point for the Cubs to move on.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2025
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Meanwhile, Ava reaches her breaking point at the show.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 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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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
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunch%20time. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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