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
  • For Maslanka, their response meant more than simply surviving a medical crisis.
    — Robbie Owens, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Saturday’s attack comes as casualties surge in Yemen, where the years long conflict has dragged the country into a severe humanitarian crisis.
    — Clarissa Ward, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of crisis
Noun
  • The key is to approach sensitive situations with empathy, flexibility and respect for individual boundaries.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 Nov. 2026
  • But its unique situation in Miami-Dade has rankled many local public school advocates, who see the money and lobbying heft put into them as a political project to undermine traditional public schools.
    — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 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 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Dunkirk

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Dunkirk

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