as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
with the company facing a financial Dunkirk, it was hoped that the new CEO could turn things around—and fast
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Dunkirk
Noun
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City leaders in Lake Dallas got more than an earful from residents who believe they were failed during a crisis in late March when a house explosion critically injured Jessica Bailey Lopez.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026 -
Don’t wait for your first crisis to act.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Instead of posing questions about geography or world affairs, the test asked him to tackle hypothetical situations, from the frustrating to the dangerous.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Christie acknowledged that the Kings were in a difficult position given their recent schedule injury situation.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Dunkirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Dunkirk. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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