Synonym Chooser

How does the noun crisis differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crisis are contingency, emergency, exigency, juncture, pinch, straits, and strait. While all these words mean "a critical or crucial time or state of affairs," crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.

a crisis of confidence

Where would contingency be a reasonable alternative to crisis?

The words contingency and crisis are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

When would emergency be a good substitute for crisis?

The meanings of emergency and crisis largely overlap; however, emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

When is it sensible to use exigency instead of crisis?

In some situations, the words exigency and crisis are roughly equivalent. However, exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

When is juncture a more appropriate choice than crisis?

Although the words juncture and crisis have much in common, juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.

an important juncture in our country's history

How does the word pinch relate to other synonyms for crisis?

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

come through in a pinch

How are the words strait and straits related as synonyms of crisis?

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

in dire straits

Examples of crisis in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web Marquis: What personal experiences during your visits to coffee growing locations have shifted your understanding of the environmental crisis and its direct impact on farming communities? Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 The hand belongs to Palmer (Brian Dietzen), who was dispatched to bring Knight in to deal with this international crisis. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024 More:Israel strikes Gaza and Lebanon as violence continues The two organizations are at the helm of a campaign to vaccinate children against polio after the paralyzing disease, long-eliminated in the U.S. and other parts of the world, reemerged amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024 Despite their 24/7 availability, chatbots still struggle to accurately identify crisis situations. Anisha Sircar, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for crisis 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crisis
Noun
  • For updates on evacuation orders, see the Ventura County emergency website.
    Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • In an emergency stop, the Vanquish’s Brembo carbon ceramic brakes halt progress from 100 kph (62 mph) in less than 30 meters (98.4 feet), a common European benchmark for truly superlative braking.
    Dan Carney, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • But another major political situation is reportedly having a significant impact on the event’s guestlist.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
  • In a competitive situation earlier this month, the company secured rights to Liane Moriarty’s new novel Here One Moment, setting up the property for TV with Blossom Films and Made Up Stories, in a reunion on the heels of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.
    Mike Hutton, Post-Tribune, 19 July 2017
  • Delimitros said one of the truck’s side view mirrors struck her in the head, causing minor injuries.
    David Hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, 19 July 2017
Noun
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon, also called Raynaud’s syndrome, is a condition that causes the small blood vessels in the extremities to constrict.
    John Loeppky, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Iris pulls herself onto the dock and waits as the power in her extremities slowly returns.
    Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • The point there is that O’Brien is no stranger to the exigencies of pressure as felt at the Breeders’.
    Guy Martin, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
  • Economic exigencies are often more urgent than a deference to the past, but Little Tokyo is trying to have it both ways.
    Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2024
Noun
  • Some recipe secrets include adding chips inside a sandwich for an extra crunch and marinating the meat overnight.
    Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
  • Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner Komeito took 215 seats in the lower house of parliament, down from 279 seats, as voters punished the incumbents over a funding scandal and a cost-of-living crunch.
    Reuters, NBC News, 28 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near crisis

Cite this Entry

“Crisis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crisis. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on crisis

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