urgent

adjective

ˈər-jənt How to pronounce urgent (audio)
Definition of urgentnext
as in acute
needing immediate attention I will need to put off everything but the most urgent issues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of urgent His work is a beautiful, and urgent, reminder of the poignancy of life’s smallest moments. — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026 Frontlight The premiere-only section Frontlight showcases 16 films, from critically examinations of the truth and urgent issues of our time to portraits of artists and their work. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, the warnings from the AI companies themselves about the potential risks are becoming increasingly urgent. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026 After the piece was published, a spokesperson for Anduril reached out to Lee with several urgent requests for correction. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for urgent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for urgent
  1. acute
  2. pressing
  3. dire
  4. intense
  5. compelling
  6. emergent
  7. desperate
  8. critical
Adjective
  • The cause was determined to be a lack of oxygen to the brain due to severe asthma with acute lung injury while fighting cold-like symptoms.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Other medications are used to treat acute relapses or manage symptoms such as fatigue, walking difficulties, spasticity and bladder problems.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of acute
Adjective
  • While security is by far the most pressing priority, new projections from the IMF have revealed the war’s deepening economic toll.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The candidates for county judge debated the county’s most pressing issues, including budget management, flood control and jail diversion.
    — Katie Bartlett, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of pressing
Adjective
  • The sell-side tug of war Despite the dire credit picture, equity sentiment remains fiercely divided, driving this week's 17% bounce from the lows.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The goats’ dire situation first came to light when a former dairy employee raised concerns after witnessing emaciated and sick animals on the property, the former employee told the Idaho Statesman last year.
    — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dire
Adjective
  • Pike committed the crime over an intense romantic jealousy of Slemmer, who allegedly attempted to steal her boyfriend’s attention.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Carnegie Hall seats well over 3,000 people, but this intense, no-frills performance film gives life to the old saying about feeling alone in a crowd.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • Kendall Jenner and Hunter Schafer, in Valentino and Prada, respectively, wore two of the evening’s most compelling arguments for black and white evening attire.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Fielder started in the realm of absurdist comedy, and with the Holmes project moves into a world of watercooler high crimes and compelling fourth-wall breaking.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of compelling
Adjective
  • This emergent growth dynamic comes with important implications.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The auction house endorsed the new asset form, and the asset’s price, in turn, made the institution appear responsive to an emergent cultural power.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of emergent
Adjective
  • The result is a patchwork of rules and regulations for robotaxi operators to follow — an outcome that many industry leaders were desperate to avoid.
    — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Mass was being livestreamed on social media when the crucifix fell, recording both the fatal incident and the desperate response from those inside the church.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of desperate
Adjective
  • The critical need for a crisis communications plan, regardless of the size of your business.
    — Janelle Ash , Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • If a critical variable exceeds an allowable limit, the safety function overrides the control system regardless of why the controller made its decision.
    — Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of critical

Browse Nearby Words

urgency
urgent
urges
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Urgent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urgent. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All