as in crossroads
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
the governor responded swiftly and surely to the crisis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 crises
So, why is this country in the midst of one of the greatest humanitarian crises in modern history?
—
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
But Venezuelans, having endured years of crises, know how to tackle adversity.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
The result was that, where earlier fiscal crises had been met by waves of municipal-level revolts against mainstream economic policies, New York witnessed no such revolts in the 1970s.
—Daniel Wortel-London, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The unrest comes as multiple crises have whipsawed the economy.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
WalletHub's analysis also examined how cities protect their residents from other types of harm, including public health crises, natural disasters, traffic accidents, scams and financial instability, among other factors.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 5 Jan. 2026
The designation was first granted under the Biden administration and later expanded, citing political instability, humanitarian crises and the lack of basic services in Venezuela.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Every dollar spent on preventing extreme hunger saves many more that might have to be disbursed in response to crises.
—Arif Husain, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
Darlene Greene, a member of the town council representing a tract in West Altadena, told me that the ordeal of rebuilding had driven some of her constituents into mental-health crises.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
But Venezuelans, having endured years of crises, know how to tackle adversity.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
The result was that, where earlier fiscal crises had been met by waves of municipal-level revolts against mainstream economic policies, New York witnessed no such revolts in the 1970s.
—Daniel Wortel-London, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The unrest comes as multiple crises have whipsawed the economy.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
WalletHub's analysis also examined how cities protect their residents from other types of harm, including public health crises, natural disasters, traffic accidents, scams and financial instability, among other factors.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 5 Jan. 2026
The designation was first granted under the Biden administration and later expanded, citing political instability, humanitarian crises and the lack of basic services in Venezuela.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Every dollar spent on preventing extreme hunger saves many more that might have to be disbursed in response to crises.
—Arif Husain, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
Darlene Greene, a member of the town council representing a tract in West Altadena, told me that the ordeal of rebuilding had driven some of her constituents into mental-health crises.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crises
Noun
-
New York is a crossroads for them at the edge of the continent, like a traffic circle with east-west routes running along the ocean or north-south routes going up the harbor or to New Jersey.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The crossroads sustainable fashion now finds itself at could rebalance trust in green claims, giving companies with less genuine impact investment an easy way out, Allweiss says, and making space for the truly committed to step up and be properly acknowledged.—
Bella Webb,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Like 911 for emergencies, 211 is a national three-digit dialing code, launched in 2000, that connects callers to information specialists at the nearest local 211 helpline.—
Matthew W. Kreuter,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The outcome could potentially have lasting ramifications for civil-military relations and the boundaries of presidential power under the Constitution, particularly during protest movements and domestic emergencies.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In many of these situations so far, neither state actors nor health care systems or providers want to shoulder responsibility.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The ruling left little hope for legal relief for Khan or for any Pakistani citizens who find themselves ensnared in similar situations.—
Rafia Zakaria,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The political exigencies that faced the American literary public were of a different set.—
Elaine L. Wang
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
So uncompromising as to turn hard heads into soft behinds.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Wiser heads, though, can see that the fraud also robbed funds from those who needed them the most and that rooting out fraud should not be a partisan issue.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crises. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share