| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | active | currently operating or happening |
| 2. | acute | severe and immediate |
| 3. | alarming | causing serious worry |
| 4. | arduous | requiring great effort |
| 5. | binding | officially required |
| 6. | burdensome | hard to bear |
| 7. | burning | demanding immediate action |
| 8. | called-for | needed in the situation |
| 9. | clamant | loudly demanding attention |
| 10. | compelling | powerfully demanding attention |
| 11. | compulsory | required; not optional |
| 12. | consequential | having important results |
| 13. | critical | extremely important or dangerous |
| 14. | crucial | extremely important |
| 15. | crying | obviously needing action |
| 16. | dangerous | likely to cause harm |
| 17. | decisive | settling an important issue |
| 18. | demanding | requiring much attention or effort |
| 19. | desperate | extremely serious or urgent |
| 20. | dire | extremely serious or urgent |
| 21. | disturbing | causing unease or concern |
| 22. | do-or-die | allowing no failure |
| 23. | escalating | growing more serious quickly |
| 24. | essential | absolutely needed |
| 25. | exacting | making heavy demands |
| 26. | exigent | requiring quick action |
| 27. | extreme | very great or serious |
| 28. | fast-moving | developing quickly |
| 29. | fierce | intense and forceful |
| 30. | forceful | strongly demanding attention |
| 31. | foremost | most important |
| 32. | fraught | full of serious concern |
| 33. | grave | serious and worrying |
| 34. | growing | becoming greater |
| 35. | hard-pressed | under severe pressure |
| 36. | heated | intense and urgent |
| 37. | heavy | serious or burdensome |
| 38. | high-priority | needing attention before others |
| 39. | high-stakes | involving serious consequences |
| 40. | hot | currently urgent or popular |
| 41. | immediate | happening or needed at once |
| 42. | imperative | absolutely necessary |
| 43. | important | having great value or effect |
| 44. | indispensable | too important to do without |
| 45. | insistent | demanding attention persistently |
| 46. | intensifying | becoming stronger or more serious |
| 47. | keen | strong or intense |
| 48. | key | very important |
| 49. | last-minute | happening at the latest time |
| 50. | leading | most important |
| 51. | live | currently active |
| 52. | major | very important |
| 53. | make-or-break | decisive and critical |
| 54. | mandatory | required by rule or necessity |
| 55. | meaningful | important and significant |
| 56. | menacing | appearing dangerous |
| 57. | momentous | very important |
| 58. | mounting | increasing steadily |
| 59. | necessary | required or needed |
| 60. | needed | required or necessary |
| 61. | nondeferrable | not able to be postponed |
| 62. | now-or-never | requiring immediate decision |
| 63. | obligatory | required by duty or rule |
| 64. | ongoing | still happening |
| 65. | oppressive | hard to endure |
| 66. | overdue | late and needing action |
| 67. | paramount | more important than anything else |
| 68. | peremptory | allowing no delay or refusal |
| 69. | perilous | full of danger |
| 70. | persistent | continuing firmly |
| 71. | pivotal | centrally important |
| 72. | precarious | dangerously unstable |
| 73. | primary | first in importance |
| 74. | prompt | done without delay |
| 75. | red-hot | extremely urgent or intense |
| 76. | relentless | continuing without easing |
| 77. | required | officially or practically needed |
| 78. | requisite | officially or practically required |
| 79. | risky | involving possible harm |
| 80. | serious | important and worrying |
| 81. | significant | important enough to matter |
| 82. | stark | severe and obvious |
| 83. | strained | under pressure or stress |
| 84. | stressful | causing pressure or strain |
| 85. | substantial | considerable and important |
| 86. | tense | showing strain or urgency |
| 87. | threatening | suggesting danger |
| 88. | time-sensitive | dependent on quick timing |
| 89. | top-priority | most urgent or important |
| 90. | touch-and-go | uncertain and risky |
| 91. | troubling | causing concern or distress |
| 92. | unceasing | not stopping |
| 93. | unpostponable | unable to be delayed |
| 94. | unyielding | not easing or weakening |
| 95. | urgent | needing immediate attention |
| 96. | vital | absolutely necessary or important |
| 97. | warranted | justified as necessary |
| 98. | weighty | important and serious |
| 99. | white-hot | extremely intense |
| 100. | worrying | causing concern |