1
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 In a shutdown, the BIA would shift from normal operations to a contingency structure focused on essential functions. Arlyssa D. Becenti, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025 Together, these partnerships diversify supply risk, deepen software resilience, and create potential co-repair and training hubs that can be activated in contingencies. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025 Elias Díaz exiting Game 161 with discomfort in his left oblique has at least forced the Padres to scramble contingencies into place for the postseason. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025 An offset that focuses on China, of course, does not exclude preparing for contingencies elsewhere, such as against Russia in eastern Europe, Iran in the Middle East, or North Korea on the Korean Peninsula. Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contingency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contingency
Noun
  • Islamabad is now more likely to consider Delhi’s growing friendliness with the Taliban to harm Pakistan’s interests a real possibility, regardless of Delhi’s actual intentions.
    Happymon Jacob, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
  • But the possibility of a rookie second-rounder helping a hapless franchise to the bottom of the Play-In Tournament is too low stakes.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of such actions which shall be heard and determined by a court of three judges in accordance with the provisions of section 2284 of title 28 of the United States Code and any appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The new venture included a provision that allowed the 76ers to capture a greater share of arena revenue at Xfinity Mobile starting last season.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This is the fourth year of the event, and the additions of Steen, Jackman and Arbour will bring the number of players in the Hall of Fame to 20.
    Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Featuring high-profile guests like Coco Jones, the annual DKMS gala is a fundraising event hosted by the international nonprofit organization with a mission to fight blood cancer.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The peculiar requirement is an homage to Emma Stone’s character in the film, who is a bald-headed CEO who ends up kidnapped and suspected of being an alien.
    Andrew McGowan, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), approved by Congress earlier this year, introduces stricter work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by limiting who can be exempt from the program’s time restrictions.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This year’s Academy Museum Gala also welcomed a strong contingent of music stars and internet favorites, including Addison Rae, Charli XCX, Ed Sheeran, Hailey Bieber, Hilary Duff, Kendall Jenner, Jenna Ortega, Olivia Rodrigo, Role Model and Selena Gomez.
    Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2025
  • His header from a delicious Fernandes cross sent the away contingent into raptures, celebrations that were maintained when Gapko nodded wide of a gaping net moments later.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Heyward suggested that the conditions played a role in the injury, which is expected to end Killebrew’s season.
    Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The system has the ability to show warehouse operators how much of the warehouse is occupied, whether products and pallets are in the right location, how storage conditions seem and more.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The scientific case for exploration dates back many millions of years to continental drift when Greenland was believed to be closely connected to Norway and the British Isles.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Holt, who has six cases pending in federal court over civil rights violation claims, said as soon as he was transferred, the state began trying to get the cases dismissed as moot, citing his relocation to West Virginia.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The bout was a tables match, a stipulation that Team 3D made famous.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The one stipulation — no phones.
    New York Times, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contingency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contingency. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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