zero hours

noun

plural of zero hour
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

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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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zero hours
  1. crises
  2. crossroads
  3. heads
Noun
  • In short, in the last 25 years, America voted itself a series of tax cuts, waged expensive wars, got older, and then spent its way out of a couple of crises.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Then a complicated storm of medical, mental and personal crises struck in early 2024.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of crises
Noun
  • Matt Rhule is safe, but Nebraska is at somewhat of a crossroads.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • With light rail plans possibly in the works, Atlanta is at a crossroads.
    — Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of crossroads
Noun
  • Called convergent binocular stereo (CBS), it is designed for robotic heads whose two cameras can point toward the same location instead of remaining parallel.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Finding bodies with their heads removed, bricks in their mouths, or – as in this case – a sickle pointing at their throat, automatically earns suspicion as a vampire.
    — Mike McRae August 25, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of heads

Browse Nearby Words

zero hour
zero hours
zeroing (in on)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Zero hours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zero%20hours. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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