Synonym Chooser

How does the noun juncture differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of juncture are contingency, crisis, emergency, exigency, pinch, straits, and strait. While all these words 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

In what contexts can contingency take the place of juncture?

While the synonyms contingency and juncture are close in meaning, contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

Where would crisis be a reasonable alternative to juncture?

Although the words crisis and juncture have much in common, crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.

a crisis of confidence

When might emergency be a better fit than juncture?

The words emergency and juncture are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

When would exigency be a good substitute for juncture?

While in some cases nearly identical to juncture, exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

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

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 juncture?

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

in dire straits

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of juncture At this juncture, Marlowe hunters can head in one of two directions. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 Lazard certainly wouldn't be expensive at this juncture, and Green Bay could probably acquire him for the cheap cost of a seventh-round draft pick. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025 At that moment, Pasquantino faced a critical juncture. Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025 Tough call with Toro NEW YORK – The Red Sox made a slew of roster moves Thursday afternoon in preparation for a crucial four-game series at Yankee Stadium, including the designation for assignment of a player who helped stabilize their infield at a crucial juncture earlier this season. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for juncture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for juncture
Noun
  • Trolling crank baits along points and flats 15 feet deep over deeper water should still work.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
  • All perfumes pull a disappearing act at some point during the day, but Coty has figured out a way to make their fragrances less fleeting.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The gunmen, who arrived at the junction in a vehicle carrying weapons, ammunition and a knife, shot at dozens of people waiting near buses in the area.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Members of Israel's ZAKA search and rescue emergency services collect samples at the scene of a shooting at the Ramot road junction in east Jerusalem on September 8, 2025.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Aid groups say the Israeli military continues to restrict access to food, water, and humanitarian aid, worsening a crisis already marked by starvation and displacement.
    Kaity Kline, NPR, 18 Sep. 2025
  • During the 2008 financial crisis, Biglari seized on shareholder anger and economic uncertainty.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Also on display was a 1774 letter from King George III to Prime Minister Lord North, acknowledging the escalating rebellion in the American colonies and referencing the Boston Tea Party as a pivotal moment in deteriorating relations.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Shane Croucher Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The remark was striking in its directness and suggested the pilot may have been inattentive at a critical moment.
    Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Sonic’s newest Sacramento-area restaurant is at 5873 Antelope Road in Citrus Heights, near the intersection with Roseville Road.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Roxbury Prep is just blocks away from the intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • During Tuesday's media availability, Swinney addressed concerns about Clemson's 1-2 start by pointing to the track record since he was named head coach in 2009.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The current market situation is a far cry from Coal India's $3 billion issue a decade back that, per domestic media, had led to a liquidity crunch in the country's banking system, including massive redemptions in mutual funds from investors eager to invest in the IPO.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
  • More severe cases may require oral antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, or even surgery in chronic situations.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Even short periods of convalescence, from one to three days, increase the likelihood of a condition called deep venous thrombosis, which can cause clots to break loose in the extremities and travel through the bloodstream, passing through the heart and lodging in the lungs.
    Paul Sisson, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Thomas dove in and swam with Malibu, popping up simultaneously from the water and resting their extremities — his arms, her fins — on the edge of the pool.
    Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Juncture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/juncture. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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