deal breaker
or deal-break·er
or deal·break·er
an aspect, condition, or item that would not be accepted by a party to a business transaction or political deal: Prior to committing to a partnership, the corporation needs to have a clear vision of deal breakers versus where they are willing to be flexible.
something that would cause a person to abandon a plan, mutual arrangement, agreement, or relationship: Sorry, but entering into marriage with a partner who has hefty debt or terrible credit is definitely a deal breaker.
Origin of deal breaker
1Words Nearby deal breaker
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use deal breaker in a sentence
Being completely honest with someone, being able to f-ck up and know that’s not a deal breaker—it’s such a relief.
The lamp does fully detach from the band, so be mindful if that’s a deal breaker.
The issues now holding up the mission should not be deal breakers, the source adds.
A Rusting Oil Tanker Off the Coast of Yemen Is an Environmental Catastrophe Waiting to Happen. Can Anyone Prevent It? | Joseph Hincks | May 14, 2021 | TimeObviously in a romantic relationship, loyalty is definitely a deal breaker for me, but it’s also important in friendships.
Serena Williams On Faith, Heartbreak, Friendship and Teaching Her Daughter About Boundaries | Charli Penn | March 26, 2021 | Essence.comWilliams has been happily married to internet entrepreneur and investor Alexis Ohanian since 2017 but when it came time to talk about her relationship deal breakers with the popular dating and networking social media platform, she didn’t hold back.
Serena Williams On Faith, Heartbreak, Friendship and Teaching Her Daughter About Boundaries | Charli Penn | March 26, 2021 | Essence.com
It's not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it is kind of a top priority.
There is such a thing in presidential primary politics as a single-issue deal-breaker.
Be the Smarter Bush Brother, Jeb: Don’t Run! | Michael Tomasky | December 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor Aga Malarczyk, 37, one of more than 50,000 Polish citizens living in Scotland, this is a deal breaker.
In the '60s South, long hair was a signifier and a deal breaker for men.
‘The Land of the Permanent Wave’ Is Bud Shrake’s Classic Take on ‘60s Texas | Edwin Shrake | February 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis shouldn't have been a deal-breaker, though, since rumor has it the entire leadership is bought and paid for by the U.S.
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