Emergency

/ɪˈmɝ.d͡ʒən.si/

Synonyms for "emergency" (123 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (25)

Adjective(2 words)
auxiliary spacechaotic situation
blood bankbreakers aheadcardhousecause for alarmcharity wardclimactericclinicclutchconsultation roomcontingencyconvergence of eventscrisiscritical juncturecritical pointcrossroadscrucial periodcrunch

Strong matches (37)

dangerdangerous grounddelivery roomdifficultydispensaryendangermentexamining roomexigencyextremityfever wardgaping chasmgathering cloudshazardhigh pressurehingehospital roomhouse of cardsimperativenessimperilmentintensive care
Show 3 more words
Adjective(1 words)
dangerous situation
Noun(13 words)
declarationdiredisaster reliefemergency brakeemergency orderemergency-specificexigenciesexigencyfirst aidfirst aid itemhand brakehealth crisishelp

Related words (61)

Show 25 more words
quicksandrecovery roomriskrocks aheadrubrushsemi-private roomstopgapstorm cloudsstraitstresssurgerytensiontherapythin icethreattreatment roomturnturn of eventsturningturning pointurgencywardx rayzero hour
Noun(11 words)
lifesavingmedical crisisparking brakepinchpressingrescuingstate declarationstate safety alerturgenturgent medical situationurgent situation
Verb(1 words)
restore civil order
Adjective(4 words)
social upheaval crisisurgent issueurgent matterurgent need

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: auxiliary space, backup power, blood bank, breakers ahead, cardhouse.
  • Sentence evidence is available for emergency, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.

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 "emergency".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "emergency"

Keep "emergency" 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 "emergency" 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 "emergency", 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 "emergency" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

14 entries
actionadjectivebrakecrisisdescriptoreventhealth issuemeasuremedical eventmodifieroccurrencepolicy actionsituationtemporary state

More specific

15 entries
allergic reactionchemical emergencycrisis-relatedcriticaldeclaration of emergencydireemergency ordinanceemergency-specificfire emergencyheart attacklifesavingmedical emergencystrokeurgentweather emergency

Collocations

8 entries
emergency drillemergency exitemergency kitemergency planemergency roomemergency servicesmedical emergencystate of emergency

Inflections

3 entries
emergenciesmore emergencymost emergency

Derivations

2 entries

Sample sentences

15 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

What is the emergency telephone number?

Source: tatoeba (18790)

Report to the emergency room.

Source: tatoeba (18791)

An emergency may occur at any time.

Source: tatoeba (18793)

Don't look to me for any help except in case of emergency.

Source: tatoeba (18796)

Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "emergency"?

Closest matches include auxiliary space, backup power, blood bank, breakers ahead, cardhouse.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "emergency"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "emergency"