midlife crisis

noun

Definition of midlife crisis

: 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 It’s the show everyone has been telling you to watch, the one that uses a Groundhog Day premise of a day lived over and over again to comment on trauma, isolation, and the modern midlife crisis. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, "The 100 Best TV Shows on Netflix Right Now," 1 Feb. 2021 Lockdown has given him time to reflect—not a Philip-style midlife crisis but a sharpening of focus. — Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, "Tobias Menzies of “The Crown” Survived Lockdown on Helena Bonham Carter’s Couch," 30 Nov. 2020 As the novel opens, the unnamed narrator struggles to describe the nature of the midlife crisis that has overtaken him. — Jenny Offill, The New York Review of Books, "Seeing Too Clearly," 3 Nov. 2020 Yes, sometimes people who leave in the throes of a midlife crisis do come back. — Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, "Ask Amy: Wife of 20 years wonders if husband’s midlife crisis spells the end," 14 Oct. 2020 As in Lee’s case, the early stages can be misinterpreted as signs of nothing more serious than a midlife crisis. — Krista Stevens, Longreads, "Genius, Interrupted," 10 Aug. 2020 That’s where the midlife crisis lies: What is tech, as an industry, all about anymore? — Alexis C. Madrigal, The Atlantic, "Tech Experts Are Pessimistic About Their Industry," 21 Feb. 2020 Tropes abound of the male midlife crisis but history — and research — have long neglected what this angst means for women. — NBC News, ""Why We Can't Sleep" explores what a midlife crisis looks like for Gen X women," 22 Jan. 2020 Seemingly in the throes of a midlife crisis, Donald is thin-skinned and prone to nervous fits. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, "Sunderland ‘Til I Die is TV’s Best Show about Failure," 1 Apr. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'midlife crisis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

10 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Midlife crisis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midlife%20crisis. Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.

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More Definitions for midlife crisis

midlife crisis

noun

English Language Learners Definition of midlife crisis

: a time in middle age when a person feels a strong desire for change

See the full definition for midlife crisis in the English Language Learners Dictionary

midlife crisis

noun

Medical Definition of midlife crisis

: 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

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