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
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
One player, recently recalled winger Agustin Canobbio, had a blazing row with Bielsa, saying the breaking point came when the coach criticised the way he was sitting.
From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026
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
They were a little faster, more abrupt, with here and there less than a smooth curve at the top, almost a breaking point.
From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen
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.
