deal-breaker
noun
deal-break·er
ˈdēl-ˌbrā-kər 
variants
or less commonly deal breaker
or dealbreaker
plural deal-breakers also deal breakers or dealbreakers
1
: someone or something that prevents a deal or arrangement from being reached or fulfilled
That's where the other key player, Tomas Kaberle, comes in. He was a deal-breaker a few weeks ago in a potential trade between the Flyers and Toronto, when Quinn would not substitute him for the injured Danny Markov.—
Tim Panaccio
Tim PanaccioPay attention to any signs of a DIY fix or update. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, but it's better to know now—when you can ask the seller about it—than after the deal is done.—Matt Ellis
Matt Ellis2
: a reason for rejecting someone or something
The display is disappointing but not necessarily a deal-breaker unless your job consists of editing photos and videos.—Jason Cipriani
Jason CiprianiOverall, the biggest dealbreaker was the $290 price tag.—Bianca Alba
Bianca AlbaAny number of women I interviewed cited clinginess in a boyfriend as a major deal breaker.—Liza Mundy
Liza MundyExamples of deal-breaker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This isn’t a deal-breaker, given that the app’s main purpose is checking security, not providing it.
—PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Be honest about your risk tolerance and deal-breakers.
—Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Lower demand As major carriers pull back from China, some are adding capacity to other parts of Asia, showing the Russia airspace problem isn’t a deal-breaker unto itself.
—Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024
As seen in public charging, challenges of maintaining reliable operations, as reported by JD Power’s U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging study, while frustrating for passenger vehicle drivers, become a deal-breaker if replicated in a business-critical environment.
—Charlie Jardine, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deal-breaker 
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PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Be honest about your risk tolerance and deal-breakers.
—Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Lower demand As major carriers pull back from China, some are adding capacity to other parts of Asia, showing the Russia airspace problem isn’t a deal-breaker unto itself.
—Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024
As seen in public charging, challenges of maintaining reliable operations, as reported by JD Power’s U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging study, while frustrating for passenger vehicle drivers, become a deal-breaker if replicated in a business-critical environment.
—Charlie Jardine, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deal-breaker
Dictionary Entries Near deal-breaker
Cite this Entry
“Deal-breaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deal-breaker. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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