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

But Into the Spider-Verse is a new-model superhero movie, which means the story of Miles Morales is also the story of Peter Parker (Jake Johnson), a shaggy older version of the familiar hero, struggling through a half-baked midlife crisis. — Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Aug. 2026

Work strain, relationship trouble, financial worries and the demands of caring for aging parents can shape what many people casually label a midlife crisis. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026

Ethan spikes Giles’ drink and Giles wakes up the next morning as a giant Fyorl demon—a handy metaphor for his midlife crisis, per producer Douglas Petrie. — ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026

Clark, alone on the swing, his midlife crisis ending with a whimper, not a bang, his billboards graffitied. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for midlife crisis

• ecdysis
• haemoptysis
• hemoptysis
• lysis
• phthisis

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