critical mass

[krit-i-kuhl mas] / ˈkrɪt ɪ kəl ˈmæs /

NOUN

crucial point

Synonyms

WEAK

climax crisis crisis point critical juncture critical point critical stage crossroads crucial moment crunch time decisive moment defining moment do or die time emergency high noon irreversible momentum moment of truth pivotal point point of no return sink or swim time the Rubicon turning point zero hour

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The situation came to a critical mass in 2024 when Musk sued OpenAI for diverging from its nonprofit mission.

From Slate • Apr. 30, 2026

Participants at the Santa Marta meeting believe the real purpose of the meeting is to show those who are hesitating about the transition that there is a critical mass moving in favour of renewables.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

What happens next depends on whether this thing achieves a critical mass of meme status.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

With such fragmentation, it’s much harder for a negative storyline to reach critical mass.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2025

But I’m done, because my walking fever has reached a critical mass.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

critical mass

Example Sentences

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