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
"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
It’s true airfare hasn’t yet reached a breaking point at which people are avoiding the skies completely because they can no longer afford to fly.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026
With their scant budget pushed to the breaking point, the Friedmans were always in debt.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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.
