moment of truth

noun phrase

Synonyms of moment of truthnext
1
: the final sword thrust in a bullfight
2
: a moment of crisis on whose outcome much or everything depends

Examples of moment of truth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That moment of truth is just seven years away. — Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026 By the end of the month, a full moon in your sign brings a personal breakthrough and a moment of truth that sets you free. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026 So this all could be as simple as such matters being handled through backchannels, quietly, until a moment of truth. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 June 2026 The other two are in clean bull markets while GS is facing slowing momentum and a potential moment of truth. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for moment of truth

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of moment of truth was in 1932

Rhymes for moment of truth

See All Rhymes for moment of truth

Browse Nearby Words

moment of silence
moment of truth
momentous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moment of truth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moment%20of%20truth. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on moment of truth

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for moment of truth

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All