breaking point

American  

noun

1. the point at which a person, object, structure, etc., collapses under stress.

2. the point at which a situation or condition becomes critical.

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breaking point British  

noun

1. the point at which something or someone gives way under strain

2. the moment of crisis in a situation

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Etymology

Origin of breaking point

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

She said she had taken hundreds of calls from families at "breaking point".

From BBC

"The schedule is too much. Mentally and emotionally I'm at breaking point and, sadly, I'm not alone," she wrote.

From BBC

He described the new archbishop's appointment as "a profound split, profound breaking point".

From BBC

The long-suffering recording engineer reaches his breaking point after becoming totally fed up with the band’s self-absorbed, self-destructive behavior.

From Los Angeles Times

But staff and patients alike warn that hospitals across the country are caught in the middle of a system, many believe, is close to breaking point.

From BBC