How to Use make-or-break in a Sentence

make-or-break

adjective
  • This feels like a make-or-break stretch.
    — Sean Gentille, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
  • But a public one is make-or-break.
    — Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 18 Dec. 2025
  • But this fall could present a make-or-break moment.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Seems like this should be a make-or-break year for Jung.
    — Kevin Sherrington feb. 25, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
  • This means your business will be in make-or-break mode from day one.
    — Harry Kabadaian, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
  • This feels like a make-or-break spot for Green Bay.
    — Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
  • This was supposed to be a make-or-break series.
    — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
  • This could be a make-or-break postseason.
    — The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
  • This past season was a make-or-break year for the linebacker.
    — Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 14 Mar. 2023
  • So, this section of the schedule could be make-or-break for some clubs.
    — James Mirtle, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The third year doesn’t strike as make-or-break for DeBoer.
    — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
  • This is something of a make-or-break season for him with the Rangers.
    — Evan Grant, Dallas News, 20 Apr. 2023
  • The actor knew such a scene would be a make-or-break moment for his career.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 20 May 2024
  • The actor knew such a scene would be a make-or-break moment for his career.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Saks Global’s make-or-break moment has come.
    — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 29 Dec. 2025
  • For Flanagan, pulling it off was a make-or-break moment for the film.
    — Ashley Boucher, EW.com, 13 June 2025
  • Monk has played sparingly his first two years and faces a make-or-break summer.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • This upcoming quarter will be make-or-break.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz,alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
  • This is the make-or-break move for a make-or-break 2026 season.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
  • This is a make-or-break season for Sutton because of this.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
  • That means 2025 could be a make-or-break year for LaFleur.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The interview comes at a make-or-break moment for the inquiry.
    — Luke Broadwater, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024
  • It's seen as a make-or-break season in Milwaukee.
    — Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
  • In many ways, October will be a make-or-break month for Beauchamp.
    — Brian Sampson, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
  • Entering his make-or-break third season, Jones has a chance again.
    — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023
  • For Schoonmaker though, this is a make-or-break camp for him, in my opinion.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
  • This weekend's game against the Wolverines could be a make-or-break moment for him.
    — Anne Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
  • And the make-or-break event would play out in front of his family, friends and former teammates.
    — Candace Buckner, Washington Post, 30 June 2024
  • But the survey makes clear that 2026 is shaping up as a make-or-break year.
    — Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
  • Whether or not a hotel room has an ironing board is a make-or-break criterion for her.
    — Teddy Minford, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'make-or-break.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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