crisis

Noun

crisis (plural crises)

1. A crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point.
2. An unstable situation, in political, social, economic or military affairs, especially one involving an impending abrupt change.
   • The financial crisis could have been avoided and was the result of poor decision making both in Washington and at top financial firms that fostered a culture of excessive risk taking, according to a draft report written by Democrats on a panel that investigated the meltdown and obtained by Reuters.2011 January 25, Dave Clarke, “Panel says financial crisis avoidable”, in Reuters, archived from the original on 22 Jul 2025
   • The big question, I believe, is whether the Italian and maybe Spanish crises are the kind of thing that might be brought under control by ECB bond purchases. This is often phrased in terms of whether they are facing liquidity or solvency problems; but I think it’s better phrased in terms of the...2011 August 7, Paul Krugman, “A Self-Fulfilling Euro Crisis? (Wonkish)”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 11 Jul 2022
3. A sudden change in the course of a disease, usually at which point the patient is expected to either recover or die.
4. A traumatic or stressful change in a person's life.
   • I'm having a major crisis trying to wallpaper the living room.
5. A point in a drama at which a conflict reaches a peak before being resolved.
6. (euphemistic) Orgasm
   • Connie found it impossible to come to her crisis before he had really finished his.1929, D.H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterley's Lover
   • The orgasm started slow, a few little twitches and vibrations, but as if he sensed her crisis, he increased both the speed of his thrusting fingers and the suction of his mouth on her sex.2012 October 31, Jess Michaels, For Desire Alone, The Passionate Pen