make-or-break

adjective

ˈmāk-ər-ˈbrāk 

: allowing no middle ground between success and failure

Examples of make-or-break in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Amidst all the turmoil, everyone understood that the March 5 election was a make-or-break moment not only for the Hitler chancellorship but for democracy itself. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

Quinton Byfield, Los Angeles Kings This is a make-or-break season for Byfield. — Harman Dayal, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

While it’s scripted and executed as if in the express lane, the storyline of the team’s make-or-break match hits every note of the comeback sports-movie genre. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

The next few months could be make-or-break for smaller players in the space hoping to earn staying power. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for make-or-break

• radiopaque
• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake