Synonyms of crisis

crisis

noun

ˈkrī-səs 

as in emergency

a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action

the governor responded swiftly and surely to the crisis

Synonyms & Similar Words

• emergency
• situation
• crossroad(s)
• head
• extremity
• exigency
• crunch
• conjuncture
• crunch time
• juncture
• predicament
• flash point
• boiling point
• breaking point
• possibility
• Dunkirk
• moment of truth
• clutch
• tinderbox
• zero hour
• point of no return
• climax
• milestone
• contingency
• condition
• happening
• corner
• landmark
• impasse
• deadlock
• turning point
• hot water
• strait
• pass
• stalemate
• jam
• pinch
• last ditch
• fix
• hole
• spot
• eleventh hour
• last minute
• scrape

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun crisis differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crisis are contingency, emergency, exigency, juncture, pinch, straits, and strait. While all these words mean "a critical or crucial time or state of affairs," crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.

a crisis of confidence

Where would contingency be a reasonable alternative to crisis?

The words contingency and crisis are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

When would emergency be a good substitute for crisis?

The meanings of emergency and crisis largely overlap; however, emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

When is it sensible to use exigency instead of crisis?

In some situations, the words exigency and crisis are roughly equivalent. However, exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

When is juncture a more appropriate choice than crisis?

Although the words juncture and crisis have much in common, 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 crisis?

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 crisis?

Strait, now commonly straits, applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult.

in dire straits

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of crisis

Also as health secretary, Burnham took heat for his handling of a crisis centered on the Stafford Hospital. — Nick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 June 2026

Carone and three others, including his brother, are accused of exploiting New York City's migrant crisis for profit between June 2022 and December 2023, according to the indictment. — Anna Schecter, CBS News, 24 June 2026

There are thousands of crisis pregnancy centers across the country — around 2,500 according to a recent estimate from the Government Accountability Office. — Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 24 June 2026

For more than 60 years, the Ford Mustang has survived gas crises, insurance crackdowns, emissions rules, changing tastes, bad hair decades, good hair decades and the rise of the SUV. — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 10 June 2026