Crunch

Verb (used with object)

to crush with the teeth; chew with a crushing noise.

to crush or grind noisily.

to tighten or squeeze financially

The administration's policy seems to crunch the economy in order to combat inflation.

Verb (used without object)

to chew with a crushing sound.

to produce, or proceed with, a crushing noise.

Noun

an act or sound of crunching.

a shortage or reduction of something needed or wanted

the energy crunch.

distress or depressed conditions due to such a shortage or reduction

a budget crunch.

a critical or dangerous situation

When the crunch comes, just do your best.

Idiom

crunch numbers

Computers .

to perform a great many numerical calculations or extensive manipulations of numerical data.

to process a large amount of data.

Antonyms

noun

trivia

Synonyms

noun

crisis , critical point , crux , difficulty , emergency , hour of decision , moment of truth * , problem , test , trouble , trying time

verb

beat , bite , champ , chaw , chomp , crush , gnaw , masticate , munch , ruminate , scrunch , chump , crump , gnash , chew , confrontation , crisis , crux , grind , press , tread