Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

exigency

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of exigency

a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action

  • the exigencies requiring snap decisions that traders on the stock exchange face every day
Synonyms of exigency

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

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 exigency

moment of truth, point of no return

Synonym Discussion of exigency

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 exigency

  1. Dictionary: Definition of exigency

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up exigency? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

tchotchke

a knickknack or trinket

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. nebulous Lip reading, Brexit, and semantic uncertainty

  2. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  3. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games