1
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
a dire forecast of a plunge in stock prices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terrifying
causing fear
a series of dire tremors that hinted at a huge volcanic eruption
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
a dire need for food and medicine in the famine-stricken country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
with stock prices steadily falling, these are dire days on the trading floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of dire
Corn and sugar farmers were in dire financial straits, too.
—
Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 10 Jan. 2025
Lebanon, its economy still reeling from a devastating financial collapse in 2019, is in dire need of international support to rebuild from the war, which the World Bank estimates cost the country $8.5 billion.
—Reuters, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025
The dire display in the 1-0 defeat away to Bournemouth, where Everton barely laid a glove on their opponents and their limitations were laid bare, saw any remaining support for Dyche from the fanbase wilt away.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
This week’s dire weather forecasts, and public safety warnings, are filled with some unfamiliar terms and abbreviations.
—Gary Robbins, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dire 
Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 10 Jan. 2025
Lebanon, its economy still reeling from a devastating financial collapse in 2019, is in dire need of international support to rebuild from the war, which the World Bank estimates cost the country $8.5 billion.
—Reuters, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025
The dire display in the 1-0 defeat away to Bournemouth, where Everton barely laid a glove on their opponents and their limitations were laid bare, saw any remaining support for Dyche from the fanbase wilt away.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
This week’s dire weather forecasts, and public safety warnings, are filled with some unfamiliar terms and abbreviations.
—Gary Robbins, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dire
Adjective
-
In the winter, the opening acts like a chimney for the warmer water below, giving the spring a steaming underworld look and its ominous name.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
12 Jan. 2025
-
Something ominous, if not entirely novel, is taking shape in Washington.—
David Remnick,
The New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The stability and flexibility around Josh Allen makes for a terrifying formula.—
Derrik Klassen,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
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What’s more terrifying than losing control of your physical and mental self as your most primal, animalistic instincts take the wheel?—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
His aversion to confrontation is outweighed by the urgent need for triage.—
Susan Morrison,
The New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2025
-
On the other hand, rushing into a sale due to burnout or urgent needs may force you to settle for less.—
Anatoly Iofe,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Matt Harrison, president of Kuka Home North America, which has a furniture manufacturing base in Monterrey, fears the future could be bleak.—
David Culver,
CNN,
18 Jan. 2025
-
For many civilians, a future with both Israel and Hamas in the picture is bleak.—
Adam Rasgon,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The Alaska story represents Perkins’ tireless brainstorming of ways to help and also, perhaps, her blind spot to a more sinister history of American settler colonialism.—
Sara Georgini,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Jan. 2025
-
After Season 1 introduced viewers to the offbeat, sinister world of Lumon Industries, the Innies that make up its workforce, and the Outies compartmentalizing their lives, Season 2 is now unfolding deeper, stranger intricacies that speak to how corporations deal with dissenters.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite this, in 1980, in a turning point that helped give rise to the formidable power of the New Right, Reagan continued to lean heavily on the Panama issue in his successful campaign against Carter.—
Julie Greene / Made by History,
TIME,
22 Jan. 2025
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When Judkins’ 70-yard run set up his 1-yard scoring run for a 28-7 lead, Leonard and the Fighting Irish faced a formidable deficit that couldn’t be addressed on more quarterback keepers.—
Charles Odum,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But these apps’ ascendance does reveal an acute desire from Americans to find their next social media destination; their general wariness about TikTok’s top American competitors; and their discontent with a ban that many see as paternalistic.—
Andrew R. Chow,
TIME,
14 Jan. 2025
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But, much to the surprise of analysts, society has stoically tolerated an acute recession, a substantial jump in poverty, and a weakening labor market.—
Agustino Fontevecchia,
Forbes,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The depressing part is that the smear campaign worked.—
Nicole Page,
IndieWire,
6 Jan. 2025
-
In October, Lilium was scrambling for additional investments to keep the doors open and by late December the company announced that the only people still on the payroll would be handling the depressing job of liquidation.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
5 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near dire
Cite this Entry
“Dire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dire. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
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