crisisnoun
uk/ˈkraɪ.sɪs/us/ˈkraɪ.sɪs/plural crises uk/-siːz/usB2 [ C or U ] a time of great disagreement, confusion, or suffering:
The country's leadership is in crisis.
an economic/financial crisis
We have a family crisis on my hands - my 16-year-old sister is pregnant.
[ C ] an extremely difficult or dangerous point in a situation:
crisis talks
A mediator has been called in to resolve the crisis.
[ C ] US also crisis point a moment during a serious illness when there is the possibility of suddenly getting either better or worse:
He's passed the crisis - the fever's started to go down.
a crisis of confidence
a sudden loss of confidence:
With inflation at 500 percent, the country faces a crisis of confidence.
More examples
- It may yet be possible to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
- The country is in the midst of an economic crisis.
- Talks were held in Madrid about the fuel crisis.
- Falling house prices are illustrative of the crisis facing the construction industry.
- The two groups will meet next week to try to defuse the crisis.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences
- a (heavy) cross to bear idiom
- a cloud on the horizon idiom
- a fate worse than death idiom
- a hard/tough row to hoe idiom
- a narrow squeak idiom
- bind
- crunch
- curse
- eventuality
- fate
- feeding frenzy
- genie
- going
- have a bumpy ride idiom
- rum
- schtuck
- shtook
- stalemate
- standoff
- vortex
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Disease & illness - general words
Uncertainty