Word: exigent (adjective)

Associations

The word "exigent" means something that is very urgent or requires immediate attention. It is often used to describe situations, problems, or demands that cannot wait and need quick action.

• Example 1: "The patient was in exigent need of medical care." This means the patient needed medical help right away.
• Example 2: "The exigent circumstances forced them to evacuate the building." This means the situation was urgent and required fast action.
• Example 3: "Exigent deadlines made the project very stressful." This means the deadlines were tight and required immediate work.

A synonym for "exigent" is "urgent." The difference is that "exigent" often sounds more formal or serious, and it emphasizes the pressure or demand for quick action more strongly than "urgent."

Substitution

You can replace "exigent" with:

• urgent (less formal, very common)
• pressing (focuses on importance and immediacy)
• critical (focuses on importance and danger)
• immediate (focuses on time, needing action now)

Each word changes the tone slightly. For example, "critical" often implies danger, while "pressing" emphasizes importance but can be less alarming.

Deconstruction

"Exigent" comes from Latin "exigere," which means "to demand" or "to require." The prefix "ex-" means "out" or "forth," and the root "agere" means "to drive" or "to do." So, "exigent" literally means something that drives out or demands action.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation in your life that was exigent? What did you do?
• How would you explain the difference between "urgent" and "exigent" to a friend?
• In what types of jobs or situations do you think exigent demands happen most often? Why?