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the point at which something fails, breaks, or collapses under pressure
The bridge reached its breaking point during the storm.
The bridge collapsed because it could no longer withstand the force of the storm.
Often used metaphorically to describe emotional or psychological limits.
the maximum stress a material can withstand before fracturing
The engineers tested the metal to determine its breaking point.
They measured the maximum stress the metal could endure before breaking.
Used in materials science and structural engineering.
the point at which a person or system can no longer function effectively under stress
After months of overwork, he hit his breaking point.
He could no longer perform his job due to extreme stress and exhaustion.
Common in discussions about mental health and workplace stress.
While often used metaphorically for emotional or psychological limits, it also has a technical meaning in engineering.
Always consider the context to determine whether 'breaking point' is being used literally (engineering) or metaphorically (psychology).
From 'break' (to fracture or fail) + 'point' (a specific moment or limit). The phrase emphasizes the critical moment of failure.
Often used metaphorically to describe emotional or psychological limits, but also has technical applications in engineering.