What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Crisis vs Threat - What's the difference?

crisis | threat |

As nouns the difference between crisis and threat

is that crisis is a crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point while threat is an expression of intent to injure or punish another.

As a verb threat is

to press; urge; compel.

crisis

English

Noun

(crises)
  • A crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point.
  • An unstable situation, in political, social, economic or military affairs, especially one involving an impending abrupt change.
  • A sudden change in the course of a disease, usually at which the patient is expected to recover or die.
  • (psychology) A traumatic or stressful change in a person's life.
  • (drama) A point in a drama at which a conflict reaches a peak before being resolved.
  • Derived terms

    {{der3, crisis management , currency crisis , financial crisis , economic crisis , international crisis , identity crisis , existential crisis , personal crisis , psychological crisis , midlife crisis , quarter-life crisis}}

    threat

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), (m), (m), .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An expression of intent to injure or punish another.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats .
  • An indication of imminent danger.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katrina G. Claw
  • , title= Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm , volume=101, issue=3, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.}}
  • A person or object that is regarded as a danger; a menace.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 2, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC
  • , title= Bulgaria 0-3 England , passage=Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence.}}

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) To press; urge; compel.
  • (archaic) To threaten.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.vii:
  • An hideous Geant horrible and hye, / That with his talnesse seemd to threat the skye
  • * 1599 , , V. i. 37:
  • O yes, and soundless too; / For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony, / And very wisely threat before you sting.
  • (label) To use threats; act or speak menacingly; threaten.