as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
we're at the zero hour, so someone has to make a decision
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Recent Examples of zero hour
Nevertheless, this is an improvement on the zero hours that (many) men were doing 50 years ago.
—
Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
The zero hour show begins at 1 p.m. ET and the main matches begin at 3 p.m. ET.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
The King video marked the zero hour for new forms of activism using cameras.
—Will Potter
july 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
She's stopped, however, when Derringer and Clarke burst in at the zero hour, giving impassioned speeches about the importance of the alliance.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 3 July 2025
The course will feature the same curriculum as other PE courses, East Aurora High School Principal Jennifer Mitchell said at a curriculum meeting in May, but will be offered during zero hour for the first time next year.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
Fighting, however, continued up to the zero hour, with Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon far into the night.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 27 Nov. 2024
English learners can attend a specialized class for learning to speak and write can be accomplished with a before-school (zero hour) or after-school period.
—Madeleine Parrish, The Arizona Republic, 8 Oct. 2024
When zero hour arrived, on a muggy Thursday afternoon, her manner was one of resigned acquiescence.
—Ned Zeman, Outside, 14 Nov. 2021
Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
The zero hour show begins at 1 p.m. ET and the main matches begin at 3 p.m. ET.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
The King video marked the zero hour for new forms of activism using cameras.
—Will Potter
july 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
She's stopped, however, when Derringer and Clarke burst in at the zero hour, giving impassioned speeches about the importance of the alliance.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 3 July 2025
The course will feature the same curriculum as other PE courses, East Aurora High School Principal Jennifer Mitchell said at a curriculum meeting in May, but will be offered during zero hour for the first time next year.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
Fighting, however, continued up to the zero hour, with Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon far into the night.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 27 Nov. 2024
English learners can attend a specialized class for learning to speak and write can be accomplished with a before-school (zero hour) or after-school period.
—Madeleine Parrish, The Arizona Republic, 8 Oct. 2024
When zero hour arrived, on a muggy Thursday afternoon, her manner was one of resigned acquiescence.
—Ned Zeman, Outside, 14 Nov. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zero hour
Noun
-
But the War on Terror persisted and mutated into nightmares in Iraq and Afghanistan, and then Syria, which unleashed that darkness in the form of terrorist states and a refugee crisis that spread anti-Muslim and anti-migrant hatred to Europe, the United States, and beyond.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
As Hal witnesses crisis and inequality firsthand, the line between observing and acting begins to blur.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The reason, an official with knowledge of the meeting plans said, is because King Charles is a head of state, rather than a head of government.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Matt Small, who is in his first season as Lincoln-Way Central’s head coach, was an assistant at Homewood-Flossmoor.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zero hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zero%20hour. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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