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Dunkirk

noun

ˈdən-ˌkərk How to pronounce Dunkirk (audio)
Definition of Dunkirknext
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action with the company facing a financial Dunkirk, it was hoped that the new CEO could turn things around—and fast

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for Dunkirk
  1. crisis
  2. situation
Noun
  • My personal concern is especially based on the fact that their huge need for additional electricity generation could very well ruin our ability to reduce carbon emissions and avoid a climate crisis.
    — Martin Kushler, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Toxic haze and smoke have caused a health crisis in neighboring countries.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of crisis
Noun
  • Tagliabue, who died in November, had a strong working relationship with NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw, whose constituency strongly favored pausing the action to assess the situation.
    — Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The situation flipped with the Pentagon’s next round of launch procurement in 2025, when SpaceX won the lion’s share.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of situation
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.

Browse Nearby Words

dunking
Dunkirk
Dunkirks
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Cite this Entry

“Dunkirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Dunkirk. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Dunkirk

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Dunkirk

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