as in crises
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
we're at the zero hour, so someone has to make a decision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of zero hours
Nevertheless, this is an improvement on the zero hours that (many) men were doing 50 years ago.
—
Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zero hours
Noun
-
The Institute observed that a UBI program did not necessarily cause inflation; delivery system strength is key; an effective communication strategy is essential; the UBI program should fit within existing schemes; and crises shed light on the gaps in social protection systems.—
Carrie Brandon Elliot,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
As mental health crises and resources continue to stretch, many fear the consequences could echo the fallout from the Covid pandemic.—
Will Barker,
TheWeek,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The feature centers on two women — Yoriko (Takako Matsu), an artist living in rural Nagi, and her friend and former sister-in-law Yuri (Shizuka Ishibashi) — at a crossroads and searching for a way to move forward.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
-
The Sprinters Last July, Groenewegen’s career was at a mini-crossroads.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The chance to work with the former Brighton & Hove Albion manager had been a significant draw for many of the players who had joined the club over the previous 18 months, and his abrupt departure left some scratching their heads.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
His neighbors baked the entire haul into an enormous pie, and left the heads of the fishes poking through as a celebration of abundance, or maybe an announcement of survival.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zero hours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zero%20hours. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
