impending crisis

USAGE SUMMARY

'impending crisis' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a potential or developing crisis that has not yet fully arrived. For example: "There is an impending crisis in the housing market, with prices skyrocketing in many areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There is an impending crisis.

Independent

Dr Abo el-Ezz warned of an impending crisis.

Independent

Can we survive the impending crisis and, if so, how?

The Guardian - Books

Many books, however, treated the impending crisis of climate change more directly.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Think of the way almost everyone important missed the warning signs of an impending crisis.

The New York Times

Despite the accumulating evidence of impending crisis, the world community seems incapable of responding effectively.

The Guardian

The prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, was informed about the impending crisis in UK/Russian relations.

The Guardian

"We had an impending crisis," said Chuck Hurley, a council spokesman.

The New York Times

This time the headline pointed the finger at Martino and at the impending crisis.

The Guardian - Sport

The climate was changing dramatically and dangerously, although in the opposite direction from today's impending crisis.

The Guardian - Arts

"In 2004, what we had talked about was an impending crisis in affordable housing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "impending crisis" to highlight the urgency and potential severity of a situation that is likely to worsen if not addressed promptly.

Common error

Avoid using "impending crisis" in situations that are merely inconvenient or require routine problem-solving. Reserve it for truly significant and potentially catastrophic scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impending crisis" functions as a noun phrase, where "impending" modifies the noun "crisis". It describes a situation that is on the verge of becoming a critical problem. As Ludwig AI explains, it refers to a potential or developing crisis that has not yet fully arrived, which aligns with the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

11%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "impending crisis" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a situation that is developing into a significant problem. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for highlighting urgency and potential severity. This phrase sees frequent use across various contexts, particularly in news, academic writing, and scientific discourse. When using "impending crisis", remember to reserve it for truly significant scenarios to avoid exaggeration. Alternatives such as "approaching emergency" or "gathering storm" can offer nuanced variations depending on the specific context. The high frequency and clear meaning of "impending crisis" make it a valuable tool for communicating potential threats effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gathering crisis

Implies that a crisis is forming or accumulating.

imminent danger

Shifts focus to the immediacy of the threat, using 'imminent' to indicate it is about to occur.

approaching emergency

Substitutes 'crisis' with 'emergency', implying a situation requiring immediate action.

looming catastrophe

Replaces 'crisis' with 'catastrophe', suggesting a more severe and destructive event.

developing emergency

Focuses on the ongoing progression of a critical situation.

brewing disaster

Emphasizes the gradual development of a negative situation.

growing threat

Highlights the increasing intensity of a potential danger.

gathering storm

Uses a metaphorical image of a storm to represent a developing crisis.

burgeoning problem

Uses 'burgeoning' to describe a problem that is rapidly increasing in size or scope.

oncoming challenge

Replaces 'crisis' with 'challenge', softening the severity of the situation.

FAQs

How can I use "impending crisis" in a sentence?

You can use "impending crisis" to describe a situation that is developing into a serious problem, such as, "The report warned of an "impending crisis" in the healthcare system."

What's a good substitute for "impending crisis"?

Alternatives include "approaching emergency", "gathering storm", or "imminent danger", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "an impending crisis is happening"?

While grammatically correct, it might be slightly redundant. "Impending" already implies that the crisis is about to happen. Consider using "an "impending crisis" is developing" or simply "a crisis is happening" if the event is already unfolding.

What is the difference between "impending crisis" and "urgent crisis"?

"Impending crisis" suggests that a crisis is likely to occur in the near future, while "urgent crisis" implies that the crisis is already happening and requires immediate attention. They both can refer to current or expected emergencies, but with different meanings.