plural exigencies
1
: that which is required in a particular situation
usually used in plural
exceptionally quick in responding to the exigencies of modern warfare D. B. Ottaway
2
a
: the quality or state of being exigent
b
: a state of affairs that makes urgent demands
a leader must act in any sudden exigency
Choose the Right Synonym for exigency

juncture, exigency, emergency, contingency, pinch, strait (or straits) crisis mean a critical or crucial time or state of affairs.

juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.

an important juncture in our country's history

exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency.

come through in a pinch

strait, now commonly straits, applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult.

in dire straits

crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.

a crisis of confidence

Examples of exigency in a Sentence

the exigencies requiring snap decisions that traders on the stock exchange face every day
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In addition, institutions that reduce or close a program, department, college, or position because of a reinvestment plan would be able to proceed with policies and procedures associated with a declaration of financial exigency. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 3 Feb. 2025 However likely the Government’s success on the merits may be, in my view, emergency relief is not appropriate because the applicant has failed to demonstrate sufficient exigency to justify our intervention. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 What to know:Lawmakers have pressed TSU to declare financial exigency. Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 1 Jan. 2025 Declarations of financial exigency, mergers and outright closures are also likely to increase. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for exigency 

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exigency was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near exigency

Cite this Entry

“Exigency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exigency. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

plural exigencies
: a situation requiring immediate action

Legal Definition

plural exigencies
1
: that which is required in a particular situation
usually used in pl.
2
a
: the quality or state of being exigent
b
: a state of affairs that makes urgent demands
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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