midlife crisis

noun

: a period of emotional turmoil in middle age characterized especially by a strong desire for change

Examples of midlife crisis in a Sentence

We knew he was going through a midlife crisis when he bought a new sports car.
Recent Examples on the Web The trouble is, a midlife crisis can hit just as retirement is becoming more real. Juli Fraga, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2024 Leo's midlife crisis comes via his aspirations for his son. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2023 She’s grown distant even from her best friend and neighbor, Hilary (Sarayu Blue), who’s in the throes of a midlife crisis amid her crumbling relationship with David (Jack Huston). Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2024 The trio mirrored their dynamic on screen, with Kirk playing the grandfather who had just suffered a stroke and Michael playing a womanizer going through a midlife crisis who's trying to save his son — played by Cameron — from falling into some detrimental pitfalls. Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 21 Jan. 2024 In real life, though, a midlife crisis is rarely so obvious or dramatic, or the sole province of men. Juli Fraga, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2024 But nothing seems to be going right for Hank, who’s in the midst of a midlife crisis and seems dead set on burning his life down to the ground. Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 25 Dec. 2023 But when my 40-year-old aunt died, my parents engaged in radical grieving methods: having complete midlife crises, leaving their stable jobs, moving us 950 miles away to Nashville and opening a carwash. Ron Lieber, New York Times, 16 Dec. 2023 For many of us, nothing so grand as even a midlife crisis materializes. Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'midlife crisis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of midlife crisis was in 1965

Dictionary Entries Near midlife crisis

Cite this Entry

“Midlife crisis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midlife%20crisis. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

midlife crisis

noun
: a period of emotional turmoil in middle age caused by the realization that one is no longer young and characterized especially by a strong desire for change
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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