crisis
Time of danger
A crisis is a turning point—a crucial moment when things could go either way.
The word often describes emergencies or periods of intense difficulty: a financial crisis, a hostage crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis.
A midlife crisis is a period of anxiety about aging and accomplishment.
In medicine, a crisis is the point when a patient either begins to recover or declines.
The plural is crises.
Abrupt seizure of power
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- unrestState of public disturbance
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
revolt · revolution · overthrow · insurrection · anarchy · protests · sanctions · diplomatic
Prolonged economic decline
- depressionProlonged low state
- collapseSudden structural failure
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
inflation · downturn · austerity · bailout · default · insolvency · hyperinflation · stagflation
Sudden ruinous event
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- 911Crisis response number
- ambulanceEmergency medical transport
- evacuationRemoval from danger
paramedics · rescue · relief · casualties · quarantine · epidemic · shelter · survival
Failure or decomposition
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
despair · overwhelm · trauma · collapse · spiral · rock-bottom · distress · anguish
Drainage area boundary
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- pivotalVitally important, deciding
- decisiveQuick to conclude
- junctureCritical point of decision
inflection · climax · reckoning · make-or-break · breakthrough · culmination · precipice · brink
Armed struggle between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- tensionsStates of strained relations
standoff · showdown · brinkmanship · flashpoint · armed · military · nuclear · missile
Exposure to harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- menaceSource of potential harm
- riskPossibility of harm
- jeopardyRisk of harm
hazard · looming · imminent · impending · brewing · escalating · mounting · deepening
Direct emergency phone connection
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- supportTo uphold or sustain
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
de-escalation · stabilization · outreach · prevention · rehabilitation · recovery · casework · helpline
coup
Abrupt seizure of power
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- unrestState of public disturbance
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
turmoil · revolt · revolution · overthrow · insurrection · anarchy · protests · sanctions · diplomatic · standoff
recession
Prolonged economic decline
- depressionProlonged low state
- collapseSudden structural failure
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
unemployment · inflation · downturn · austerity · bailout · default · insolvency · hyperinflation · stagflation · deflation
disaster
Sudden ruinous event
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- 911Crisis response number
- ambulanceEmergency medical transport
evacuation · paramedics · rescue · relief · casualties · quarantine · epidemic · shelter · survival · urgent
breakdown
Failure or decomposition
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
anxiety · despair · overwhelm · trauma · collapse · spiral · rock-bottom · distress · anguish · desperation
watershed
Drainage area boundary
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- pivotalVitally important, deciding
- decisiveQuick to conclude
juncture · inflection · climax · reckoning · make-or-break · breakthrough · culmination · precipice · brink · threshold
war
Armed struggle between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
tensions · standoff · showdown · brinkmanship · flashpoint · armed · military · nuclear · missile · blockade
danger
Exposure to harm
jeopardy · hazard · looming · imminent · impending · brewing · escalating · mounting · deepening · existential
hotline
Direct emergency phone connection
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- supportTo uphold or sustain
mediation · de-escalation · stabilization · outreach · prevention · rehabilitation · recovery · casework · helpline · safeguarding
- eventsevent, events, party, parties, wedding
- experiencesadventure, journey, moment, event, feeling
- disastersdisaster, earthquake, earthquakes, catastrophe, floods
- dramaTV drama, acting, television drama, drama school, playwright
- business troublesbankruptcy, failure, insolvency, layoffs, losses
- crisesemergency, disaster, natural disaster, catastrophe, calamity
crisisstability
Resistance to displacement
equilibrium · normalcy · normality · calm · steadiness
crisisorder
Methodical arrangement or request
harmony · prosperity · flourishing · normalcy · smooth sailing
- midlife crisisExistential distress at life's halfway point
- identity crisisLoss of personal certainty
- mid-life crisisMiddle-aged existential distress
- energy crisisSevere fuel supply disruption
- financial crisisSevere economic system breakdown
- housing crisisSevere lack of affordable dwellings