situation
How things stand
A situation is the circumstances or state of affairs at a particular time and place: We need to assess the situation before acting.
It often implies complexity or difficulty: a delicate situation, an awkward situation.
In military and emergency contexts, situation refers to current conditions requiring response.
A job or position, especially domestic service, was once called a situation: She found a situation as a governess.
Condition affecting an event
- stateCondition or mode
- conditionState or stipulation
- statusOne's relative position
- scenarioPostulated event sequence
case · predicament · plight · phase · stage · juncture · standing · footing
Serious sudden danger
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
quandary · plight · peril · distress · fiasco · debacle · pickle · jam
State of perplexity
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- impasseSituation without resolution
deadlock · stalemate · catch-22 · puzzle · problem · challenge · conflict · no-win
Context of events
- backdropRear stage scenery
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- milieuSocial or cultural surroundings
- environmentExternal conditions affecting life
background · ambience · climate · dynamics · landscape · terrain · atmosphere · surroundings
Specific place or area
area · locality · venue · ground · whereabouts · bearings · coordinates · orientation
A distinct event
- occurrenceSomething that takes place
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- episodeSerialized content unit
- happeningEvent in progress
matter · event · phenomenon · experience · development · business · concern · issue
Paid position of employment
- postVertical structural beam
- vacancyUnoccupied space or position
- openingGap or start
- placementPutting somewhere specific
appointment · berth · role · employment · place · posting · gig · engagement
circumstance
Condition affecting an event
scenario · case · predicament · plight · phase · stage · juncture · standing · footing · prospect
emergency
Serious sudden danger
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
dilemma · quandary · plight · peril · distress · fiasco · debacle · pickle · jam · bind
quandary
State of perplexity
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
impasse · deadlock · stalemate · catch-22 · puzzle · problem · challenge · conflict · no-win · double bind
setting
Context of events
environment · background · ambience · climate · dynamics · landscape · terrain · atmosphere · surroundings · conditions
locale
Specific place or area
spot · area · locality · venue · ground · whereabouts · bearings · coordinates · orientation
incident
A distinct event
- occurrenceSomething that takes place
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- episodeSerialized content unit
happening · matter · event · phenomenon · experience · development · business · concern · issue
job
Paid position of employment
placement · appointment · berth · role · employment · place · posting · gig · engagement · assignment
- contextbackground, setting, circumstances, environment, framework
- happeningshappenings, happening, event, occurrence, events
- situationscircumstance, condition, state, predicament, dilemma
- circumstancescircumstances, conditions, state, status, predicament
- performanceballet, theatre, acting, circus, concert
- existentialismexistence, authenticity, existential angst, existential crisis, angst
situationrevolution
Violent governmental overthrow
upheaval · transformation · flux · chaos · turmoil
situationunemployment
Being without paid work
joblessness · displacement · dislodgment · termination · dismissal
- sticky situationDifficult circumstance to escape
- no-win situationDilemma without good outcomes
- situational comedyHumorous series, consistent setting
- win-win situationOutcome benefiting all parties
- hostage situationCrisis involving held captives
- situation roomSecure briefing space for crises
situations, situational, situating, situationship, situation comedy, situation room