as in crossroads
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
the governor responded swiftly and surely to the crisis
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Recent Examples of crises
Gas is still cheaper than in several prior geopolitical crises and energy is a smaller share of people's expenses.
—
Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Structural adjustment programs devastated social services through budget cuts and user fees, creating barriers for the poor to access basic health care and education, while the liberalization of mining sectors caused severe environmental degradation and health crises.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Brooks is still wont to assume that social crises are a function of our personal habits, not economic or political injustice, and his methodological tics are the same as ever.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Chicago’s finances present several overlapping crises.
—Bill Conway, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The Fed chair, who made the comments on Monday to an undergraduate economics class at Harvard University, covered a lot of ground during his hour-long appearance, including the financial system's capacity to weather future crises.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Church of the Holy Speluchre has historically remained open to clergy even during major crises, including past wars and pandemics, making Palm Sunday’s restriction a rare flashpoint in already strained relations between Israel and the Vatican.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026
The conflict has sparked one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, displacing at least 7 million people in eastern Congo, but the people still feel hopeful.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
That shift has made Red Sea routes—and by extension nearby chokepoints such as the Bab el‑Mandeb—far more consequential to global energy markets than in previous crises, heightening concerns that renewed Houthi attacks could disrupt a key alternative lifeline for oil supplies.
—Steve Mollman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Structural adjustment programs devastated social services through budget cuts and user fees, creating barriers for the poor to access basic health care and education, while the liberalization of mining sectors caused severe environmental degradation and health crises.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Brooks is still wont to assume that social crises are a function of our personal habits, not economic or political injustice, and his methodological tics are the same as ever.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Chicago’s finances present several overlapping crises.
—Bill Conway, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The Fed chair, who made the comments on Monday to an undergraduate economics class at Harvard University, covered a lot of ground during his hour-long appearance, including the financial system's capacity to weather future crises.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Church of the Holy Speluchre has historically remained open to clergy even during major crises, including past wars and pandemics, making Palm Sunday’s restriction a rare flashpoint in already strained relations between Israel and the Vatican.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026
The conflict has sparked one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, displacing at least 7 million people in eastern Congo, but the people still feel hopeful.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
That shift has made Red Sea routes—and by extension nearby chokepoints such as the Bab el‑Mandeb—far more consequential to global energy markets than in previous crises, heightening concerns that renewed Houthi attacks could disrupt a key alternative lifeline for oil supplies.
—Steve Mollman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crises
Noun
-
The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have each worked hard to be seen as the crossroads for business, politics and innovation, hosting global sporting events from Formula 1 to high-stakes boxing championships and top-tier golf tournaments.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Shoulder surgery and a months-long rehab at this point in his career puts him at a crossroads, but the early signals from his recovery look positive.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Animal Services officers are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, to respond to animal emergencies.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
One of those signees, named Allison, highlighted the lost time to work and school each year due to dental care, including dental pain and emergencies.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That’s because many federal immigration laws are built around the presumption of birthright citizenship and don’t address situations like that, though the laws could change.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
It will be encumbered neither by norms nor the exigencies that compel speech in a democratic society.—
Casey Ryan Kelly,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
-
You logical minds cannot understand the exigencies of art.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On September 30th, a few days after the attack, Loomer called out Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai, the heads of Apple and Google, for making such programs available.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The players in this for the long haul — Matas Buzelis, Tre Jones, Patrick Williams and Giddey — are still wrapping their heads around the next steps for a rebuild.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crises. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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