You must know you're faced with a crisis.
Source: tatoeba (16223)
Crisis
/ˈkɹaɪsɪs/
Synonyms for "crisis" (161 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (33)
bench markboombottoming outbreakers aheadbusiness cyclebusiness fluctuationsbustcalamitycardhousecardinal pointcatastrophecause for alarmchief thingclimactericclimaxclutchcontingencyconvergence of eventscooling offcore
Show 4 more words
Noun(8 words)
Adjective(1 words)
chaotic situation
Strong matches (48)
crossroadscrucial periodcrunchcruxdangerdangerous grounddepressiondisasterdollar crisisdollar gapdownturneconomic cycleeconomic expansioneconomic growthemergencyendangermentessenceessentialessential matterexigency
Noun(8 words)
Adjective(2 words)
dangerous situationextreme chaos
Related words (80)
house of cardsimperativenessimperilmentimportant thingissuejeopardyjuncturekernelkeystonelandmarklowmain pointmain thingmarket expansionmaterial pointmeatmenacemilestonename of the gamenub
Show 40 more words
passpeakpeakingperilpinchpithpivotplightpointpredicamentpresspressureprosperitypushquicksandreal issuerecessionrecoveryriskrocks aheadrubsalient pointsine qua nonslowdownslumpstorm cloudsstraitstresssubstancesubstantive pointtensionthe bottom linethe pointthin icethreatturnturning pointupturnurgencyzero hour
Noun(14 words)
Adjective(6 words)
social upheaval crisisstormy seassystemic disarrayurgent issueurgent matterurgent need
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: bench mark, boom, bottoming out, breakdown, breakdown of institutions.
- Sentence evidence is available for crisis, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "crisis".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "crisis"
Keep "crisis" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "crisis" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "crisis", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "crisis" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
7 entrieseconomic crisisethical crisisfinancial crisishealth crisisidentity crisismoral crisisromantic crisis
Collocations
6 entriescrisis centercrisis hotlinecrisis interventioncrisis managementeconomic crisishealth crisis
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
5 entriescrisis centercrisis counselorcrisis interventioncrisis managementcrisis plan
Sample sentences
14 total sentences available.
There will be an energy crisis in the near future.
Source: tatoeba (18754)
In a crisis, you must get in touch with your teacher.
Source: tatoeba (20698)
In a crisis you must keep your head.
Source: tatoeba (20710)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "crisis"?
Closest matches include bench mark, boom, bottoming out, breakdown, breakdown of institutions.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "crisis"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.