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as in possibility
something that might happen agencies trying to provide for every contingency in a national emergency

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun contingency differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contingency are crisis, emergency, exigency, juncture, pinch, straits, and strait. While all these words mean "a critical or crucial time or state of affairs," contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

In what contexts can crisis take the place of contingency?

The meanings of crisis and contingency largely overlap; however, crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.

a crisis of confidence

When is emergency a more appropriate choice than contingency?

While in some cases nearly identical to contingency, emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

When might exigency be a better fit than contingency?

The synonyms exigency and contingency are sometimes interchangeable, but exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

When could juncture be used to replace contingency?

The words juncture and contingency can be used in similar contexts, but juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.

an important juncture in our country's history

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

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 contingency?

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 contingency The scope of cooperation should grow to include joint naval and air activities in the Indian Ocean involving more submarine cooperation, airborne reconnaissance operations, and joint contingency planning. Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025 What might an ethics of contingency look like? Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025 Lazaro and other officials told senators that contingency measures are already in place to assist and evacuate Filipinos in the event of a war. Karen Lema, Reuters, 28 Aug. 2025 Of course, such legislation cannot anticipate all future contingencies, which may open the door for political interference or for practices that break the law. Ana Carolina Garriga, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contingency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contingency
Noun
  • But others suggested that with Kirk’s death, any possibility of peacefully bridging the divide between the right and left was now off the table.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Collins, Appropriations Committee chairwoman, is tasked with crafting funding measures and is locked in a battleground reelection fight, potentially strengthening the possibility of an extension.
    Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Becoming tax competitive globally, both in terms of absolute rates and tax design, by adopting tax provisions that reduce tax barriers to investment and capital formation.
    Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Around half of homeless people work, according to a 2021 study, and could be swept up in the order’s provisions.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • On Wednesday afternoon, Turning Point USA founder and right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.
    Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The latest commitment will allow Startup Junkie to continue the program for three years and expand the team's capacity to serve clients and prospective borrowers with more resources, hands-on support and events.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Then, in January 2025, the government introduced a Social Media Bill that placed further requirements on social media platforms.
    Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Over the years, the government's reporting requirements have changed, which makes historical comparisons a little tricky.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The critics will point out the large English contingent as a case of the rich getting richer courtesy of the Champions League prize money, a legitimate gripe given the Premier League already operates on a different financial playing level from their European counterparts.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • TikTok boasts around 170 million US users, many of them young people – a contingent that offered significantly more support to the Republican presidential candidate in the 2024 election than that segment of the population has in recent years.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The economic conditions have put Fed policymakers in a bind.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Then, in June, Lyles cast the tiebreaking vote deciding not to study ways to improve working conditions for airport employees.
    Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Moreover, the dissociation process is conditioned on Debtor's commencement of a bankruptcy case, the precise situation that § 541(c) is intended to address.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • What investigators conclude about Robinson’s motivations may have far-reaching consequences beyond his own criminal case.
    Connor Greene, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This is no accident, as stipulations in the language of the incentive allow the dealer, not the purchaser, to be considered the owner allowing the lessee ability to gain the benefit of the credit regardless of income.
    Hughey Newsome, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Michigan, Ohio, the territory of Puerto Rico and other states have specific stipulations regarding anonymity.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contingency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contingency. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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