the crunch
noun
: a very difficult point or situation
The crunch came when the computer stopped working.
Examples of the crunch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Editors were also pleased with the taste and freshness of the pickle after getting past the initial impression of the crunch.
—
Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
This time the crunch came because spending fueled by the post-pandemic economic recovery was not sustainable when revenue plummeted just a few years later — but the state budget has long gone through similar boom-and-bust cycles.
—Lanhee J. Chen, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, there is a shortage of memory semiconductors, causing an unprecedented jump in prices of the component, with some in the electronics industry expecting the crunch to continue through 2027.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
The best sandwiches toe the line between pure hedonism and health—the bite of vinegar and brine, the crunch of fresh vegetables.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the crunch
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Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
This time the crunch came because spending fueled by the post-pandemic economic recovery was not sustainable when revenue plummeted just a few years later — but the state budget has long gone through similar boom-and-bust cycles.
—Lanhee J. Chen, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, there is a shortage of memory semiconductors, causing an unprecedented jump in prices of the component, with some in the electronics industry expecting the crunch to continue through 2027.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
The best sandwiches toe the line between pure hedonism and health—the bite of vinegar and brine, the crunch of fresh vegetables.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the crunch
Cite this Entry
“The crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20crunch. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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