breaking point
Americannoun
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the point at which a person, object, structure, etc., collapses under stress.
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the point at which a situation or condition becomes critical.
noun
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the point at which something or someone gives way under strain
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the moment of crisis in a situation
Etymology
Origin of breaking point
First recorded in 1895–1900
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
However, after his mother sued him this year over a property dispute -- what he called his "breaking point" -- Siranudh decided to speak out and is now planning to pursue legal action.
From Barron's • May 25, 2026
The town of 30,000 reached a breaking point.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026
Ian McCollum's family had said they were at "breaking point" as the trial was expected to be postponed due to the ongoing barrister's strike.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
"When the nanopillars are closer together, more of them can press on the same virus at once, stretching its outer shell past breaking point."
From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026
But there is only the sound of my breathing and what I’m sure is the stretching of my heart’s sinewy muscle as it reaches its breaking point.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
