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crisis

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of crisis

a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action

  • the governor responded swiftly and surely to the crisis
Synonyms of crisis

boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk, emergency, exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture, tinderbox, zero hour
Words Related to crisis

contingency, possibility

climax, turning point

happening, landmark, milestone

condition, pass, situation, strait

deadlock, impasse, stalemate

corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, last ditch, pinch, predicament, scrape, spot

eleventh hour, last minute
Phrases Synonymous with crisis

moment of truth, point of no return

Synonym Discussion of crisis

juncture, exigency, emergency, contingency, pinch, strait (or straits) crisis mean a critical or crucial time or state of affairs. juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.
    • an important juncture in our country's history
exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.
    • provide for exigencies
emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.
    • the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies
contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.
    • contingency plans
pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency.
    • come through in a pinch
strait, now commonly straits, applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult.
    • in dire straits
crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.
    • a crisis of confidence

Learn More about crisis

  1. See words that rhyme with crisis Dictionary: Definition of crisis Medical Dictionary: Definition of crisis Spanish Central: Translation of crisis Nglish: Translation of crisis for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of crisis for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crisis

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