a stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, esp. for better or for worse, is determined; turning point.

a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change.

a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person's life.

Medicine/Medical .

the point in the course of a serious disease at which a decisive change occurs, leading either to recovery or to death.

the change itself.

the point in a play or story at which hostile elements are most tensely opposed to each other.

of, referring to, or for use in dealing with a crisis.

noun

calm , peace

noun

big trouble , catastrophe , change , climacteric , climax , confrontation , contingency , corner , crossroad , crunch * , crux , culmination , deadlock , dilemma , dire straits , disaster , embarrassment , emergency , entanglement , exigency , extremity , height , hot potato , hour of decision , imbroglio , impasse , juncture , mess , moment of truth * , necessity , pass , perplexity , pickle * , pinch * , plight , point of no return * , predicament , pressure , puzzle , quandary , situation , stew , strait , trauma , trial , trouble , turning point , urgency , exigence , head , zero hour , flash point , apoplexy , conjecture , conjuncture , convulsion , criticality , critical juncture , crossroads , cruciality , panic , paroxysm , peril , pinch , seizure