Dunkirk

noun

ˈdən-ˌkərk How to pronounce Dunkirk (audio)
Definition of Dunkirknext
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action with the company facing a financial Dunkirk, it was hoped that the new CEO could turn things around—and fast

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for Dunkirk
  1. crisis
  2. situation
Noun
  • The last three Democratic presidents inherited terrible economic conditions and had to spend to rescue the country from soaring joblessness, the housing crisis and the pandemic, respectively.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Washington — Senate Democrats demanded answers Wednesday about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, following reports of food shortages, broken plumbing and mental health crises during the aircraft carrier's record-setting deployment.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of crisis
Noun
  • Humanitarian intervention alone is unable to improve this dire situation.
    — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The situation is fluid and Mangione could conceivably decide against pleading guilty between now and Friday.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of situation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

dunking
Dunkirk
Dunkirks
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Cite this Entry

“Dunkirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Dunkirk. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Dunkirk

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Dunkirk

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