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

Her apprehensive patient hits a breaking point nevertheless, frantically fleeing the exam room while Dana is procedurally required to remain.

From Salon

An animal rescue centre has claimed it is at "breaking point" after seeing its running costs spiral to £40,000 a month.

From BBC

When did tension between national duty and universal morality reach a breaking point, and atrocity emerge as a moral scandal?

From Salon

Luke Arrigoni, CEO of Loti AI, a company specializing in likeness protection technology, said he isn’t surprised the industry has reached a “breaking point.”

From Los Angeles Times

That tension reached a breaking point in September 1971, when Lin allegedly attempted a botched coup before dying in a mysterious plane crash in the Mongolian desert while fleeing to the Soviet Union.

From The Wall Street Journal