crisis

noun

cri·sis ˈkrī-səs How to pronounce crisis (audio)

plural crises ˈkrī-ˌsēz How to pronounce crisis (audio)

: the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever

: a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function

: an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life

a midlife crisis

: the decisive moment (as in a literary plot)

The crisis of the play occurs in Act 3.

: an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending

especially : one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome

a financial crisis

the nation's energy crisis

: a situation that has reached a critical phase

the environmental crisis

the unemployment crisis

Did you know?

Semantic Crisis Intervention

Some people are bothered by changes in a word’s meaning (see: literally), while others have a more relaxed attitude towards semantic drift. For those who feel vexed when a word seems to have suddenly changed its spots, it may be of some comfort to know that words in English do this all the time; crisis is a fine example.Originally, crisis denoted “the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever.” Now it most commonly means “a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention,” yet few people insist that it should be used exclusively in its older meaning. The normality of semantic change can be seen in another word that first appeared in febrile contexts: hectic, which now is primarily used to mean “very busy,” originally referred to a fever that was fluctuating but recurrent.

Example Sentences

She was dealing with a family crisis at the time. Most people blame the government for the country's worsening economic crisis. last year's state budget crisis In times of national crisis, we need strong leaders we can trust. A year ago, both companies were in crisis.

Recent Examples on the Web That brings us full circle to the Jackson water crisis.

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Although measures such as better irrigation management, a hydraulic dam and a water treatment plant have been proposed to alleviate the region’s water crisis, officials say there aren’t enough funds.

Mustafa Salim, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Jackson residents have faced a water crisis that on Aug. 29 included no running water because of problems at the city’s main facility, the O.B. Curtis Water Plant, following flooding of the Pearl River.

Phil Helsel, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2022 And, Jackson State football wins big despite its home city's water crisis.

Rick Klein, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2022 The development comes a week after Tate declared a state of emergency in response to the water crisis.

Jason Duaine Hahn, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2022 But the water crisis has compounded the financial strain caused by an ongoing labor shortage and high inflation.

Michael Goldberg, ajc, 4 Sep. 2022 The water crisis in Jackson illustrates how America’s water systems were built for a climate that no longer exists.

Victoria Cavaliere, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2022 For the first time since Jackson’s latest water crisis unfolded, Gov. Reeves and Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba united at a joint news conference Thursday.

Ashley R. Williams, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2022 See More

Medical Definition

crisis

noun

cri·sis ˈkrī-səs How to pronounce crisis (audio)

plural crises -ˌsēz How to pronounce crisis (audio)

: the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever

especially : a sudden turn for the better (as sudden abatement in severity of symptoms or abrupt drop in temperature) compare lysis sense 1

: a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function

tabetic crisis

cardiac crisis

: an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life

: a psychological or social condition characterized by unusual instability caused by excessive stress and either endangering or felt to endanger the continuity of an individual or group

especially : such a social condition requiring the transformation of cultural patterns and values

crisis

noun

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

Relevance

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

Synonym Chooser

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

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

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

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

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

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

单词	crisis
释义	crisis noun cri·sis ˈkrī-səs plural crises ˈkrī-ˌsēz 1 a : the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever b : a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function c : an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life a midlife crisis 2 : the decisive moment (as in a literary plot) The crisis of the play occurs in Act 3. 3 a : an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending especially : one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome a financial crisis the nation's energy crisis b : a situation that has reached a critical phase the environmental crisis the unemployment crisis Did you know? Semantic Crisis Intervention Some people are bothered by changes in a word’s meaning (see: literally), while others have a more relaxed attitude towards semantic drift. For those who feel vexed when a word seems to have suddenly changed its spots, it may be of some comfort to know that words in English do this all the time; crisis is a fine example.Originally, crisis denoted “the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever.” Now it most commonly means “a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention,” yet few people insist that it should be used exclusively in its older meaning. The normality of semantic change can be seen in another word that first appeared in febrile contexts: hectic, which now is primarily used to mean “very busy,” originally referred to a fever that was fluctuating but recurrent. Synonyms boiling point breaking point clutch conjuncture crossroad(s) crunch crunch time Dunkirk emergency exigency extremity flash point head juncture tinderbox zero hour See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences She was dealing with a family crisis at the time. Most people blame the government for the country's worsening economic crisis. last year's state budget crisis In times of national crisis, we need strong leaders we can trust. A year ago, both companies were in crisis. Recent Examples on the Web That brings us full circle to the Jackson water crisis. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Although measures such as better irrigation management, a hydraulic dam and a water treatment plant have been proposed to alleviate the region’s water crisis, officials say there aren’t enough funds. Mustafa Salim, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Jackson residents have faced a water crisis that on Aug. 29 included no running water because of problems at the city’s main facility, the O.B. Curtis Water Plant, following flooding of the Pearl River. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2022 And, Jackson State football wins big despite its home city's water crisis. Rick Klein, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2022 The development comes a week after Tate declared a state of emergency in response to the water crisis. Jason Duaine Hahn, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2022 But the water crisis has compounded the financial strain caused by an ongoing labor shortage and high inflation. Michael Goldberg, ajc, 4 Sep. 2022 The water crisis in Jackson illustrates how America’s water systems were built for a climate that no longer exists. Victoria Cavaliere, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2022 For the first time since Jackson’s latest water crisis unfolded, Gov. Reeves and Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba united at a joint news conference Thursday. Ashley R. Williams, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English crise, crisis, borrowed from Latin crisis "judgment, critical stage," borrowed from Greek krísis "act of separating, decision, judgment, event, outcome, turning point, sudden change," from kri-, variant stem of krī́nein "to separate, choose, decide, judge" + -sis, suffix forming nouns of action or process — more at certain entry 1 First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Phrases Containing crisis identity crisis midlife crisis hostage crisis pre-crisis identity crisis midlife crisis hostage crisis pre-crisis Kids Definition crisis noun cri·sis ˈkrī-səs plural crises ˈkrī-ˌsēz : a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention a medical crisis Medical Definition crisis noun cri·sis ˈkrī-səs plural crises -ˌsēz 1 : the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever especially : a sudden turn for the better (as sudden abatement in severity of symptoms or abrupt drop in temperature) compare lysis sense 1 2 : a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function tabetic crisis cardiac crisis 3 : an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life 4 : a psychological or social condition characterized by unusual instability caused by excessive stress and either endangering or felt to endanger the continuity of an individual or group especially : such a social condition requiring the transformation of cultural patterns and values crisis noun 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 Relevance emergency situation crossroad(s) extremity exigency head crunch predicament conjuncture juncture flash point crunch time boiling point possibility breaking point tinderbox clutch zero hour climax contingency milestone condition moment of truth happening point of no return Dunkirk impasse corner landmark deadlock hot water turning point strait pass stalemate fix jam pinch last ditch hole spot eleventh hour last minute scrape Synonym Chooser 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 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 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 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 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 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
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crisis

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing crisis

Kids Definition

noun

Medical Definition

noun

noun

Synonym Chooser